ADHD & Autism - The Connection & Differences

Hi! I'm Orion Kelly and I'm Autistic. On this video I explore what ADHD is and it's connection with #autism. Plus, I share my personal lived experiences as an #actuallyautistic person. #orionkelly #asd #autismsigns #whatautismfeelslike #ADHD

⏱ Index:
00:00 - ADHD & autism
01:12 - What is ADHD?
02:41 - Inattentive type
07:47 - Hyperactive / Impulsive type
10:43 - Connection & differences of ADHD & autism

🙏 Thanks so much for watching, rating, commenting, sharing and subscribing, I really appreciate it! You're helping me raise the level of understanding and acceptance of the Autistic community. You can show your support for my channel by doing any of these things:

1️⃣ SUBSCRIBE to my channel.
2️⃣ LIKE / COMMENT / SHARE my videos.
3️⃣ SEND me a Super Thanks

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

🔵 CHANNEL LINKS 🔵

🔵 CONNECT WITH ORION 🔵
TikTok: @orionkelly_australia

🎧 My Friend Autism' PODCAST 🎧

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABOUT ORION:
Orion Kelly is an #ActuallyAutistic vlogger (YouTuber), podcaster, radio host, actor, keynote speaker and Autistic advocate based in Australia. Orion is all about helping you increase your understanding, acceptance and appreciation of Autistic people.

#AutisticVoices #ActuallyAutistic #Autistic #Autism #OrionKelly #ThatAutisticGuy #ASD

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⛔️*Disclaimer: The videos contained on this channel are for general education and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute professional advice. For professional advice and training seek assistance from a qualified provider. All views are my own and do not represent those of my employers or sponsors. Some images used are stock images.*⛔️

Related: autism, autism diagnosis, Orion Kelly, orionkelly, thatautisticguy, tiktok videos, autistic, autism in adults, autism in women, autism in men, autism spectrum condition, asd, autism spectrum disorder, aspergers, aspergers syndrome, autism in boys, autism in girls, dsm, dsm5, autistic adults, autistic kids, autism mom, autism parent, autism family, autism speaks, autism awareness, autism acceptance, autism at work, am I autistic, adult autism test, autism disclosure, autism therapy, autism prevention, autism meltdown, autistic burnout, autistic behavior, autism symptoms, autism traits, autistic signs, what autism feels like, love on the spectrum, stimming, echolalia, anxiety

[solnic]

Thanks for the video. One remark though - people with ADHD don’t have trouble with focusing on doing something *when* it’s interesting/exciting/new etc. It’s not really a deficit of focus/attention, it’s more like our focus is random and scattered all over the place, but if we find something cool to do, we can focus on it for hours and hours, forget to eat, go outside, sleep etc. Some people call it “hyperfocus”, but it’s not really a term used in psychology.

[DashValkyrie]

I am diagnosed with ADHD but think I also have Autism. how that manifests is that I have a handful of special interests that I flit between because one thing is difficult for me to focus on. One expert thinks "attention deficit" is a misnomer--it's more like an excess of attention, with an inability to control where it's directed. "having a racecar brain with bicycle brakes" is how it's also been described.

[beck]

Autistic person with ADHD here. Cool video -- thanks! :) I found your discussion of the two each amplifying the effects of the other super interesting -- hadn't thought of it that way before but that's totally what it feels like sometimes.
Sometimes, though, it feels (at least to me) like the two are fighting each other! Gotta plan everything but also can't stick to a plan, want to try something new but also want to always do the same 3 things I know I like, struggle to multi-task but also struggle to do only one thing at a time. I've sometimes described it as writing out a meticulous schedule for my day with one hand while setting fire to it with the other! 🙃

[TheYangnyin]

Having both, I think it's interesting that it's played out such that I'll have an intense interest in something for a while and get totally absorbed but then I get bored and/or discover something new (ooh! Shiny!) and I dig into the new subject completely dropping the previous one. Tons of incomplete passion projects 😅

[shinyxcrab]

Great video! Just one thing though, ADHD isn’t really a lack of focus, but more like a lack of being able to direct focus appropriately. Their thoughts/behaviors are largely controlled by what’s either very exciting or stress inducing, which is why stimulants can help. I heard one person describe it as having an orchestra with no conductor. But I think it’s more like the conductor only jumps in at the interesting parts or if it’s getting too out of control. The signals in the brain cannot get through effectively when the stimuli isn’t exciting enough. But just like with autism, people with ADHD can become consumed in what they are interested in. However, the interests tend to be shorter lived, but maybe not always.

Here’s a look at similarities and differences between me (AuDHD) and my husband (just ADHD). We both have intense interests that we hyper focus on, trouble with emotion regulation, stims, poor time management, and trouble initiating or focusing on the task at hand if it’s not stimulating enough. Where we differ (in regards to ADHD) is that he often loses important items daily where I always keep things in the same spot every time and get aggravated when someone has moved something, I prefer the same music, foods, routines, etc whereas he is always wanting something new, he is a much bigger procrastinator whereas I may procrastinate, but the need for order and predictability will swoop in to help.

The biggest differences between ADHD and autism (in my opinion) are going to be the degree of social differences and the preference for novelty vs the need for sameness/predictability. People with either tend to make good friends though from what I’ve noticed, despite the differences. We are probably still more similar to each other than we are to neurotypicals.

[jim_jam_dseries]

I was recently diagnosed with ASD and ADHD (combined presentation). People I've mentioned it to, have generally doubted the accuracy of the diagnosis. It's called masking darlings! 😉

[karladolman]

Dr Russel Barkley is a way better resource on ADHD than the DSM5. Start with the 30 essential ideas for parent vid, so much great info. Explains how ADHD isn't a lack of focus just an inability to regulate our focus, it's all about those executive functioning issues.

[RiverWoods]

I actually love that I have both. I don't think of them intensifying each other though, more balancing each other. Because of my ADHD I'm able to take off on a new adventure like moving across country to a place I've never been, but my autism steps in and makes sure I do it with some planning and rationale. Sometimes I feel like one is more in control of my brain than the other though.

[PrinceDuCiel]

It's interesting that people in the comments are mentioning being able to focus when you like the thing.
There is More to that!
Except when the thing you like gets boring! People with ADHD often have trouble Mastering things because we can't focus when it gets boring or difficult. Our stimulus starved brains need that Newness kick. It's why we tend to like risk taking activities. Physical activity or simulated adrenaline ie videogames, keep that dopamine hit going, without the boredom of mastery.
This is what makes it a disorder. I love this thing but I stopped doing it cuz I can't put in the time and effort to get Better and even if I miss the thing, the organization and effort required has grown too much.
... It sucks. Really, really sucks.

The not hearing thing is related to how we process information. We Can hear but the time it takes to act on what we've heard, or making the decision to not focus on the flashy interesting thing, is slow or the wrong decision. Which is often a mix of inattention and impulsivity.

Also I Haaaate how impulsivity is linked to hyperactivity. I wish it was three separate categories. I have Many impulsive tendencies but only one hyperactive. Like buying stuff, ignoring things I Need to do to do something else, over eating, etc etc etc
Fidgeting is a thing I did as a kid, bouncing my leg, clicking pencils, randomly doodling all the time even if I was listening.
But they need to ad more distinction of impulsivity.

[mccannger]

Thanks for this great video.

I was disgnosed autistic in July 2020, but the doc missed ADHD (in my opinion anyways - I have to now pay for another doc to assess it 🙃). Amazes me that professionals can get stuff wrong, but unless they're a real specialist in an area, then they're in all likelihood not autistic, nor ADHD, nor neurodiverse in other ways and we are masking, sometimes without even knowing that we're masking or even what masking is!

They base their diagnosis on our answers, so if we're autistic, struggling to relate to them and maybe struggling under time pressure to answer their questions, then that's not so good, not very conducive to diagnosis.

My advice: watch great videos like this to really know the conditions you think you (or the person being diagnosed) may have and bring lots of evidence of same to your appointment! If the professional seems to steer away from something during the appointkment, be sure to enquire why and keep them honest! Thanks again 😀

[martinhughes]

Great video Orion, great info - thank you! I didn't know that ADHD and ASD amplified each other.

[Saltysteele]

about 15 years ago, when i was 35, i was diagnosed with ADHD, OCD and impulse control.
I was already carrying the depression diagnosis.
Now that I've figured out I am autistic (long story, thought I was about 5 years ago, sister talked me out of it, 18-yo daughter just said she wants to be screened, thinks she's autistic)(she has no idea about my issues or that i thought i was autistic). Now that I've overcome the stereotype of what an autistic person is, i see them falling out of the woodwork in my family (my mother being one, her father who was incredibly smart and played 4 instruments, despite never graduating the 8th grade (1940's) or any formal music training.
Anyway, i will stop the story before i get

Once I started seeing my masks and recognizing my PDA (I'm NOT just an asshole!!!) and all my other shortcomings, i felt a huge i KNEW depression or anxiety did not fit!!! Well, they did, but those are secondary to the autism. It is strange to see i have spent 50 years picking up traits in others that i found desirable and made them my own. Who the hell am I???? I am no one without my learned behaviors that by design have helped me slide through undetected. To be honest, i try not to think about it (that my behaviors are masks) unless it is actively causing an issue(s). I don't want to be anyone else, I work in healthcare directly, face to face, hands on with patients. I can't just drop my masks, because I have learned some really good stuff and i get along flawlessly (to strangers), everyone thinks I'm funny (i've been told, i don't see it; actually, my "funny" is usually me just literally saying the first thing that pops in my mind, which is the most inappropriate thing to do in most situations...). Ironically, my "funny" is my delaying the need for a response so I can appropriately process the information.

[matthewbalch]

Autism and ADHD together is my reality. It definitely makes it harder to function, and in some strange ways can make it harder to recognize that you have either because of the differences pulling against each other. When it's bad, it's bad though!

[steveluxecable]

Hey Orion! Don’t forget that you can be diagnosed with both! I’m diagnosed with ASD as well as ADHD (predominantly inattentive type).

What that looks like in my case, is being completely unable to focus on anything that doesn’t hold my interest, but being able to hyper-focus on things that do interest me. I suppose that I’m lucky in that regard, because I have a wide variety of interests, and many of them. Because of this, it almost seems like I’m leveraging my autism as a strategy in order to cope with the ADHD symptoms.

Yeah that made my head hurt too. 😉

[Rollwithit]

Just diagnosed with Asperger's and ADHD two weeks ago. I find my intense desire to be orderly and organized (Asperger's) is made nearly impossible by my ADHD inattention, distractability, and racing thoughts. I'm at odd with myself.

[artdanks]

This is so helpful! I was diagnosed with Adult ADHD, late in life. I could never understand it though, as I've never been "hyperactive ". But now I know it's because I just have the first type you mentioned. I also wondered if I might be somewhat autistic, but after watching a number of your videos, I have ruled that out. But, you have been so helpful in understanding the differences.

[masonosborne]

Just started watching your video and was a really good video thanks for the advice 😊

[yukifoxscales]

When I first found out I was ADD, it was while trying to get tested for ASD [and was told that they couldn't tell me [at 53] if I was ASD without talking to my mom. This was in March of 2020.

[beanbeanster]

The information you provided was very interesting and accurate for my son who has both autism and ADHD. Your video went so much faster than 17:16 minutes because of how interesting you make the topic but more so your humour. I love it. I find it especially interesting to hear from adults and their experiences with autism and ADHD and how they make them feel. I'm wondering if you could talk about transitioning from a child to tween to teen and maybe some primary school to high school tips. I really love your work and thank you very much for making these topics fun. I think you're great!

[jessicas]

Hello your video was suggested to me. I was diagnosed with ADHD about 14 years ago.
So i have adhd and i can focus on things im interesting in. I will focus on it till i have learned EVERYTHING about my interests at the moment. I will go into deep research. I will study, get books, nd go deep diving for more information. I have many interest but i have 1 main interest that i will forever love. The thing is its not that I'm not interested in other things its just that i have alot going on in my mind so that distract me from other things or not doing things i dont like. I only wanna focus on my interest nd nothing else.
So another thing is i often interupt people by accident because i have a question and I need to say it fast or i will forget. We have forgetful memories so we say it now or it will forever be lost. I also have very bad social anxiety so if i have to speak i will interupt say what i need to say then i jist walk away. I don't like speaking to people. I dont even like speaking. Im actually a very quiet person . I will only get my real hyperself if i meet a person who actually will accept me. Most people dont so im a very quiet person im a loner nd i go to nature to be all alone away from everyone in the world. I will drive 2 hours to the mountains to escape.
Who am I?? Well my name is Jessica
Im a hyper girl, im from the city. I was diagnosed with adhd. I love to dance. I love music, i love the beat of the music lyrics are hard to understand. I call myself a psychic for i will predict your next move or even the next move within a movie. Im a conspiracy theorist, for life will always be a conspiracy!