Volume 41, Number 3, 357-363, DOI: 10.1007/s10803-010-1049-0

Brief Report: Are ADHD Traits Dissociable from the Autistic Profile? Links Between Cognition and Behaviour

Catherine S. Ames and Sarah J. White

View Related Documents

Abstract

Reports of co-morbid symptoms of ADHD in children with ASD have increased. This research sought to identify ADHD-related behaviours in a sample of children with ASD, and their relationship with the ASD triad of impairments and related cognitive impairments. Children with ASD (n = 55) completed a comprehensive cognitive assessment whilst a semi-structured parental interview (3Di) provided information on ASD and ADHD symptoms. Co-morbid presentation of ADHD traits in these participants was associated with reports of more ASD related behaviours. Inhibitory control performance was directly related only to the ADHD symptom of impulsive behaviour. In contrast, while there was a relationship between social difficulties associated with ASD and theory of mind ability, there was no such relationship with behaviours relating to ADHD.

Keywords  Autism spectrum disorder – Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – Social cognition – Executive function – Theory of mind

A version of this paper was presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research, London, 2008.

Fulltext Preview

Image of the first page of the fulltext document