For the first time, however, both conditions can be simultaneously diagnosed. However, it is still the case, as noted, that problems with attention, impulse control and hyperactivity are not considered within diagnostic criteria for ASD. However, improvements were made with the recent publication of the Fifth Edition of the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic Criteria. The omission of this consideration in DSM-5 appears as much an oversight as an intentional effort to not address this issue. Self-regulatory problems related to attention, hyperactivity and impulse control are characteristics of ASD and from this author’s view should be considered as part of the future diagnostic criteria for this condition. The combined group also appears to experience a much higher rate of functional impairment than those youth with ASD or ADHD alone. It has yet to be clearly demonstrated whether these data suggest a one or two way co-morbidity. The percentage of children with ADHD comorbid with Autism Spectrum Disorder is still not completely understood, but there is a significant overlap (Mayes, Calhoun, Mays & Molitoris, 2012). Thus, the majority (59%) of those with PDD – NOS or Autism met criteria for Comorbid ADHD. In 2004 we reported that 26% of children in our sample of what was then referred to as Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified, met the criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD – Combined Type, while 33% met the criteria for ADHD – Predominantly Inattentive Type (Goldstein & Schwebach, 2004). Traits of ASD and ADHD are strongly related in the general population as well as in clinical groups. Previous research by our group and others has, for example, found a significant overlap between these two conditions (Goldstein & Schwebach, 2004 Goldstein and Naglieri, 2009 van der Meer, Lappenschaar, Hartman, Greven, et. In the last twelve years, a number of peer reviewed studies have demonstrated the elevated incidence of ADHD symptoms within populations of children receiving DSM-IV-TR and DSM-5 diagnoses of Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified.
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