Attention Regulation: The Difference Between ADHD and Autism (Explaining The Neurodiversity Rainbow)

This video explains in pictures the difference between adhd and autism and the neurodiversity rainbow. When looking at autism vs adhd both have issues with attention regulation, executive function, emotional regulation, social challenges and many more, yet there are some key differences between them.

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// WELCOME TO ASPERGERS FROM THE INSIDE!!

My name is Paul and I discovered I have Aspergers at age 30.

Yes, I know, I don't look autistic. That's exactly why I started this blog, because if I didn't show you, you would never know.

As the name suggests, this channel is devoted to giving you insight into the world of Aspergers.
This blog started off being just my story, but I've learned SO MUCH about my own condition
from meeting others on the Autism Spectrum that now I make sure to feature their stories as well.

I've come a long way in my own personal journey.
Now I'm sharing what I've found so you don't have to learn it the hard way too.

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// WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS BLOG

You can expect me to get to the point with concise useful information.
I focus on what is most important and don't shy away from difficult topics.

The best way to learn about Autism is to see it in real life ( i.e. via the stories of many, many people on the spectrum).

In this channel I endeavour to show you what Autism and Aspergers look like in real people and to also give you some insight as to what's happening on the inside.
I upload a new video every weekend with some bonus content thrown in mid-week too.
There's always new stuff coming through so be sure to check back and see what you've missed. (Is this where I'm supposed to tell you to hit that subscribe button?)

Topics Include:
- What is Aspergers/Autism?
- Aspie Tips, coping strategies, and advice on common issues
- Learning Emotional Intelligence (this is my special interest!)
- Autism in real life: stories from special guests

Everything I do is and endeavour to go deeper and take you 'behind the scenes' to understand what may, at first glance, seem 'odd'.
oh, and I love busting stereotypes and turning preconceptions upsidedown :)

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// ABOUT ME

I discovered I have aspergers at the age of thrity.
It has been my life's mission to understand these funny creatures we call humans.
My special interest is a combination of emotional intelligence, psychology, neuroscience, thinking styles, behaviour, and motivation. (I.e. what makes people tick)
My background is in engineering and I see the world in systems to be analysed.
My passion is for taking the incredibly complex, deciphering the pattern, and explaining it very simply.
My philosophy is that blogging is an adventure best shared.

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// EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE TRAINING

I also run autism friendly online emotional intelligence training. So if you like my direct, systematic style, and would like to improve your own emotional intelligence skills, check it out here:

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// CONTACT

Blogging is an adventure best shared which means I'd love to hear from you!
Feel free to leave me a comment or send me and email at any time and I'll do my best to respond promptly.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this channel!
I look forward to hearing from you!

Peace,

~Paul

[joy__division_is_cool]

What a lot of people forget is that sensory processing issues are very common in adhd too.

[johnsschick]

The easiest way to explain ADHD is what Dr. Russell Barkley said. "ADHD should be called an executive function disorder." I think a lot of kids who just have energy to burn are miss diagnosed, while quiet kids who "space out" or "day dream" do not get diagnosed. I was not diagnosed until I was in my twenties. But when I finally accepted my diagnosis it explained so much of the things I struggled with.

[curiousnerdkitteh]

It bugs me that the diagnoses are purely based on how well you can mask and fit into neurotypical society from the neurotypical person's point of view, not on the other struggles you may be masking which may be having a far greater impact on your mental health due to the pressure to mask!

[LemonArsonist]

As someone who is currently doing a PhD in Physics but can't remember the names of anyone except my closest friends and family members no matter how hard I try, I burst into laughter when I heard "a person might find particle physics very easy but remembering peoples names very difficult"

[davidpeterson]

First, I think it is a wonderful attempt. But I must say, isolating ADHD to inattention only is very inaccurate. Those with ADHD struggle with emotional regulation, sensory processing, memory, etc. Even saying it is inattention is inaccurate since it is an excess of attention, just often in the wrong place. So with ADHD you get high attention to detail and fixated concentration too. Those saying this helped them figure out they are on the spectrum need to rethink and let your doctor help you figure things out because it very well could just be ADHD. This isn't the video to be making that decision from. All due respect of course! I'm so greatful YouTube has so many advocates.

[whifflingtit]

Virtually everyone with ADHD has trouble regulating emotions and will have trouble with "inappropriate" (read: not useful) hyper-focus too; those are NOT solely autistic traits and ADHD has a much more broad impact on a person than just attention regulation. ADHD is not as simple as you state here in this video, and there is even greater overlap between autism and ADHD than you acknowledge within this video.

[rosannadots]

To my sweet adhd and autistic people, depression can be comorbid. You're doing great and I think you're awesome, you deserve to be your sweet loving self ❤️

[myaxox]

Adhd isn’t just about attention, it’s the most wrongly named neurological disorder

[Codyline]

Emotional dysregulation is a _huge_ part of ADHD, and SPD is also quite common. Both have asynchronous development. Both struggle with executive function. Memory is quite different in both, wherein with ASD it's usually quite exceptional and in ADHD the working memory is shot (due to the difficulty of managing attention) (which is really fun when you've got both). A lot of people with ADHD also struggle with social interaction and social cues. They're not on the opposite sides of a spectrum, they very much interlap and some of the same areas in the brain are different.

[HDDful]

I also believe that ADHD is way oversimplified here.

[PantheraLeo]

As others have pointed out this is very mischaracterizing of ADHD. It is much more than an inability to concentrate, it's an inability to choose what you concentrate on. This will sometimes manifest as getting distracted but it will also manifest as getting hyper focused on a particular thing. This will usually depend on if the person finds a given task engaging in and of itself because we aren't as affected by external rewards. For example, because I like programming, I could spend all day programming without getting distracted at all, but I will constantly get distracted while writing. Emotional regulation, sensory processing, and memory are also usually greatly affected as well as social ability.

[kaczkawymiataczka]

As a person with ADHD I find isolating ADHD just to one area as very, very harmful. You say that you don't need social or emotional condicions to be diagnosed with ADHD but it's not true. You say that people with ADHD don't get fixated but it's not true. You say that ADHD is not a sensory issue and also, it's not true.
Man, you could just ask somebody with ADHD for insight...

[jennileerose]

ADHD can also have hyper focus. I think I you’re missing that in your neurotyoical image

[Nick-hopi]

I feel like ADHD wasnt shown very accurately here

[jaga]

ADHD also includes emotional dysregulation.

[ratsinatrenchcoat]

me, who has ADD and autism: haha symptom list go

[jiltedlittle]

PAUL I WAS A PROFESSIONAL OPERA SINGER AND I CANT MAKE PHONE CALLS I AM SCREAMINGGGG RIGHT NOW

[lbillings]

I love your videos . I have ADHD . My son too . My son was was not talking at 2 years old . He had speech therapy until he went to school . He did not really fit in . He would cry and beg me not to send him to school . The school would call me, sometimes a couple of times . I'd have to go pick him up and take him home . Usually they had him pinned to the floor . So he wouldn't hurt himself or others . I was very disheartening to see your child not thrive . These days he has married and has a daughter . He owns his own home . He took out a mortgage at 23 years old . The house was paid for . He then got married . I am very proud of him . I got him help at a young age . He needed consistency . A routine . He was enrolled also for Navy Cadets . He loved it . When he was too old for the program, he worked as a volunteer . It is still hard to get a conversation going with him . A man of little words . He was given the tools to work around his "disabilities" . I am so proud of my son .

[ginaelisa]

Neurodivergent teacher of kids with ADHD and ASD here.

I've been continually coming to see ASD and ADHD as different sides of the same coin with each of the symptoms lying on a spectrum rather than executive function.

[selectiveoutrage]

I'll be in the kitchen thinking of something I need to do in the bedroom, but have to walk through the living room to get there. I will be distracted by something in the living room, do that task and totally forget the task I had to do in the bedroom. This happens constantly which is why I am not very productive. It does help a bit to make a list and try to do at least one or two things in one day.