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.
I agree. It's misconception to say it's deficit. I call it bouncing ball focus. I can focus it to bounce between 3 things, but it's extremely energy inefficient. I had 54 snickers bars one evening experimenting with it, after I had dinner and 5 other meals that day
Yes, I was going to make this same comment. When I was diagnosed they told me that it's not the inability to focus, but a different way of focusing. I've experienced hyperfocus on numerous occasions and it's almost scary how one can lose track of time while in this state. It's suspected that many artists -- such as Michelangelo -- have a form of ADHD. Hyperfocus is probably one of the things that enabled Michelangelo to finish the Sistine Chapel.
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! 🙃
This is really what I also feel like. May I ask if you got your IQ tested? I am a late-diagnosed woman with Asd + giftedness (honestly I thought I was lacking, really) and I have discovered that the two things combined create a new profile of characteristics. It is very difficult to find sources about this, so I am researching everything about ADD. I am starting evaluation process next week with a doctor who’s aware about high IQ profiles. Everything is so confusing tho. Executive dysfunctions are like… spiking up, the more I try to aim my focus on all this. Best of luck to you
Everything needs to follow a set pattern but hate repetition etc., sigh. The constant need for mental stimulation really doesn't help with sensitivity to excessive stimulus either. At least the ASD obsessive need for systemizing helps not to loose things all the time (although anything not in its set place doesn't exist anymore). Tends to feel like a strategy that should be useful for managing one side of this internal conflict just pushes the scales to the other side and the intricate balance between them is only achieved by divine providence on rare days where everything just works out.
The way they interact is both amusing and deeply frustrating. I can't plan for the life of me because if I start planning it becomes the main task and the goal is forgotten (for example).
@@skaldlouiscyphre2453 OMG yes!!! Well, more deeply frustrating for me. My ADHD is not amusing to ANYONE, & I've lost my whole family because of their intolerance. But I am a stickler/perfectionist & 'can't see the forest for the trees' ... once I DO manage to focus on something!!! It's much easier for me to hyperfocus on something I LIKE, but if it's something I HATE (like paying the bills) & someone interrupts me, it makes me really angry because I won't be able to go back & finish it! I can't even count the number of half-finished books & projects filling up my messy house that's driving me crazy! Which reminds me: I always USED to know where everything was even if it LOOKED like a mess, but now my husband is constantly MOVING my stuff, rearranging the cooking supplies in the kitchen WITHOUT ASKING or TELLING ME (!!!) ... so I've just given up on EVERYTHING, stay in bed all day, & let HIM do everything. Which, of course, he complains about. I can't win either way, so (being also physically disabled at age 60) I let him yell & take the easy route by keeping all my important stuff around my bed so I can at least guard THAT from him. My life (which I hope won't last much longer) now consists of sleeping & watching TH-cam.
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.
Thank you, this really helps in trying to navigate the subtle differences. I am autistic but questioning adhd at the moment. So confusing to pin down the origin of some behaviors, to be able to find something that helps…
Really helpful summary. And yes, hyperfocus is a massive part of ADHD for many people I know. However, it is far less predictable/stable than having a single life-long special interest. ADHDers tend to have lives strewn with the remains of previous fixations/hobbies, now abandoned for the next one(s).
@@byrongsmith "ADHDers tend to have lives strewn with the remains of previous fixations/hobbies, now abandoned for the next one(s)." Who told you how I live? 😅
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.
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 😅
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! 😉
I'm right there with you, during counseling and therapy I discovered that I've masked myself so much that it's hard to define who I am when asked. Think Jim Carey in "The Mask", where the mask absorbs the person.
@@pylyo Fair point. I think that can sometimes be what makes it all so confusing. The most useful sayings in that regard in my opinion are: "we all have X or do X to a certain degree, but is it debilitating/ keeping you from functioning in daily life?" and "we all have stuff to deal with, whether we have a diagnosed disability or just sh** going on in our lives". Hope it helps.
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.
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.
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.
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 going...... 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 relief..... 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.
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 😀
The team that did my assessment only focused on ASD because they didn't believe that I could have ADHD based on my interactions with them. Even though I gave them many examples of how I matched the criteria. Then 6 months after I got my ASD diagnosis I took part in a group activity that the team therapist held. The group was a mix of people with ASD and ADHD. A couple of sessions after seeing me and two others that were diagnosed with ADHD interact she said: "Ok, now I get it." 🤦♀A month later I got my ADHD-i diagnosis too.
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!
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. 😉
@@orionkelly Oh jeez. I must have been distracted at the moment that you were talking about the comorbidity thing. 🙄😂 Thanks for humoring my inattentive self. 😉
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!
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.
Congrats! 🎉I hope it has been beneficial to you so far. I was diagnosed with both about 4 years ago. It's really helped me to feel that it's ok that I'm different from most people, and that it's ok that my needs are different. I also feel the conflicts between my autism and ADHD. * I love following routines and checklists. But I loose interest in them very fast. So I have to come up with new routines all the time. * Autistic me usually just want to stay home and relax by myself. But ADHD me is always the loudest and most energetic at get togethers. * I have an autistic special interest. But it's interrupted by days or weeks of hyper fixating on new and shiny interests. Which I of course loose interest in before I've reached my goal. * I come up with many cool things I want to create. But I get bogged down in the details during the research stage and end up not actually doing anything.
I’m clinically diagnosed with ADHD, my friend says that she thinks that I’m “in the spectrum”. I tend to hyper focus on my interests. I avoid crowds, loud continuous noise. I guess I should see a professional to see. Does it really matter? I love your videos, thank you.
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!
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.
This is the story of my life; having both autism and adhd since early childhood and the struggle in later years to isolate symptoms from each of these such that I can manage them. Annoying to deal with health-workers that are supposed to be medicating me and I can tell they have no workable knowledge or understanding to properly help me, also that people keep telling me: Ohh autistic people have special interests and they find their groove. Well if I could focus on my special interests of which there are a thousand I'd agree! Thanks for the video and keep up the good work.
So I have ADHD (inatentive type) and Autism got my ADHD diagnosis at 13 and my Autism diagnosis at 27, got diagnosed with ADHD at a ADHD specialist and he even flagged that I might have Autism but seeing as he wasnt as knowledgeable when it comes to Autism its a rather ingenting thing to have semi conflicting diagnosises im the master of organised chaos I know where all my things are but no one would be able to find anything I have been using as they would just see a pile of stuf
Hi Orion! I've been thinking a lot about this topic recently. I'm recently diagnosed with ASD and I'm wondering more and more if I also have ADHD. I guess I'm having an interesting theory on this. Bare with me: 20 years ago, definitions of Autism were completely different right, even separated Aspies from the group and all that. Plus Autism was only a handful of symptoms that we now know are the more "stereotypical" ones and often present differently in different cultures or genders. Even thinking "if you've met one autistic person, you met one autistic person" - one autistic person could be hypersensitive to something that another is hiposensitive to, right? Well, what if we're just another 20 years behind (diagnosticly) from understanding a much bigger spectrum that actually covers the whole range of symptoms and representations of ASD and ADHD as a whole? I don't know, something to think about, would love to hear your thoughts on it!
My son was diagnosed with ADHD but they didn't specify the type but my guess is the hyperactive type. I've assumed I am as well but haven't pursued a diagnosis, probably inattentive type. Great video and information! 🌻
I have a couple of things I'd like to add. Just like with the autism criteria, none of the ADHD criteria can be interpreted as _always_ being present or _exactly_ as described. There's nuance to them. The hyperactive/impulsive type criteria shown in the video only lists external presentations. This is common with males. But it is more common with internal presentation in women. That is why it's often missed in women. Some people with ADHD have the "superpower" trait. So they can tap into this trait when they are really passionate about something, helping them overcome the issues they normally have. Like music artists for example.
The DSM5, in regard to ADHD, is out of date and attached to misleading labels. Per one of the world's leading ADHD people - "ADHD is misnamed. It should be called Self Regulation Development Disorder", or "Executive Function Development Disorder" both of which are rather more serious sounding than "Hyperactive Disorder" (most adults are not hyperactive, and sufficient trauma in a child's life will lead to the child suppressing symptoms for fear of being shouted at/beaten.) For some of us - it's a real smorgasbord of fuckery. Personally, ADHD, autism and aphantasia (no mind's eye). The mind's eye is key in personal development and longer term planning. Which probably explains why I'm 57 and still haven't figured what to be when I grow up. ADHD is a lifelong chronic disability that leaves suffers, on average, facing a 13 years shorter life span (due to accidents, self-medication, risk taking, unhealthy lifestyles, inability to maintain a stable, healthy life, OCD issues, etc). There's some cross over between the two conditions and some folks have both. Television portrayals of autism are unhelpful, to put it mildly, having created a stereotype "autistic person" who's a bit socially awkward but a total genius when relaxed. This too is unhelpful. ADHD has a set of symptoms, which you have in some degree or other - they are not co-morbidities, but symptoms and include, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, depression, anxiety, problems forming relationships, problems maintaining relationships, issues keeping jobs, issues with Law Enforcement - consequently, less likely to have a mortgages and so be at the mercy of private renting, debts, Court Orders to Pay, and so on. Not that "everyone with ADHD has all of these in spades", but everyone with ADHD will have more struggle than a non-ADHD person has. The pooh cherry on the Spectrum Cake of SHit is - Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria - this is an appalling thing to have to deal with - it means emotions are hard to deal with and hit with great force. So, for example, let's say I ask you to meet me for a coffee and you refuse. That refusal will feel like being dumped by someone you love. For hours, perhaps days, I will be caught in a maelstrom of tumultuous emotions - self loathing, fear, weariness, suicidal ideation, anger, regret, pain, etc. Every single rejection/refusal feels the same. Also - zero control over emotional response. I can fall in love, go through a rough patch, make it up, ultimately fail and then divorce, every attractive person I walk past. This process takes a few minutes and I have no control over it. Try explaining that to your wife.
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is the worst part for me, even a simple job rejection feels like a hit in your soul. is the only thing that keeps me thinking about to seek medication for it since it often I get in a loop of traumatic stuff and its hard to process all the things I left kind of pending to process. after I read your comment i can relate to your situation... any tips welcome.
@@Demonmagna It is what it is. You see it coming, you let is pass through you, and then it's gone and you're still there. Radical self acceptance. Forgiveness and patience with yourself and honesty with those close to you. People get upset over what they don't understand, but once they do are often more understanding than we could hope for. Avoid external things that pull the triggers, as much as possible. Humour helps a lot. And patience. If this is how you work, railing against it is pointless. We exhaust ourselves doing this and get nowhere.
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.
Hi Orion! I was diagnosed with autism in 1971, with the DSM-3 (now known as Asperger’s Syndrome). I also have part of the ADHD disorder: overactivity and impulsivity.
The brain is like a computer- this is something that my neurologist has more or less "beat" into my brain. My psychiatry team has since adopted this stance ever since I told them. Neural pathways are the wires and neurotransmitters and their receptors are the the plugs and receptacles of the computer. The differences in wiring between the different areas of the brain are what and how neurologists and psychiatry providers determine diagnoses and if there are any co-occuring diagnoses or disorders.
lost important things ... I just did ... I always search for things ... most of the time I find them 🤣 I can relate to some things but I don´t think I got adhd.
adhd has hyperfocus as well from my understanding. This kinda throws off the last part of unable to focus for long periods in your video. 16:45 but jeez im wondering now if i was misdiagnosed with ADHD as a child. Ill have to look into this more & get checked by a professional. I hyperfocus pretty easily.
I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 28 and found that the meds kind of worked, but kind of didn't so I stopped taking them. I'm now thinking at 46 that ADHD may have been a misdiagnosis or that it is a comorbidity.
Hmmm … that’s not entirely accurate. People with ADHD also can hyperfocus. So when we want to do something/get something done, we can be laser focused for a long time.
Many psychologists are now saying that ADHD is actually on the autism spectrum. I guess thats just as controversial as saying Asperger's is on the autism spectrum. I know I have friends that refuse to be called autistic but accept being called someone with Asperger's
Interesting topic Actually, interest is a major factor in ADHD for being able to intensely focus on something or not. And a lack of interest is often associated with increased difficulty in focusing. If curious, information from Doctor Russel Barkley or Thomas Brown could be good starting points for more information on that and ADHD. For example, in this video, from roughly 2:45 into the video to about 7:45, PhD Thomas Brown comments on that topic. th-cam.com/video/ouZrZa5pLXk/w-d-xo.html Also, as for me and interrupting... which I am sometimes guilty of... I tend to be considerate of others, but like you described for autism, if I'm passionate about something, I'm much more likely to want to say something and, well... I don't try to dominate/control conversations but that's me anyways. That is also unthinkable for me, like you described. There are other things, such as sometimes feeling a need to passionately share something because I fear I will forget it soon if I don't ("OMG, I just had this idea and... oh no... it's going! It's going! Is it my turn to speak yet?"). Yeah, so I was diagnosed with ADHD. It was recommended (when I got a referral to get assessed for ADHD) that I ask about ASD as well, "just in case," when I was eventually seen for an assessment. I was told during my assessment that I most likely wouldn't meet the criteria for an ASD diagnosis but I was strongly encouraged to go through with the ADHD assessment. I was told at the end that some of my symptoms might be considered by some people to be "autistic like" but yeah... That's how it went for me. I've found some autistic experiences shared by some people online to feel very familiar and relatable for me. I wonder sometimes if that is due to the overlap in symptoms between the two conditions that is sometimes discussed or if... maybe... possibly... actually being sub-clinically 'adjacent' but not 'close enough' (for lack of better expressions) to a possible diagnosis of both.
i am totally confused here.. you say asd people can be easily focused on their things of interest and can do them for hours. Well isn't it like that for neurotypical people as well? If you love and like something, especially if it is your passion, you will easily get lost in it for hours, that's why it is called passion. Sometimes I'm wondering if so called high functional autism is autism at all.. I think you should include comparisons between neurotypical vs asd more often and more precise, because I'm pretty sure many if not most of the "signs" of asd are very common among neurotypicals. Who the hack enjoys some boring speech and can be focused on it without thinking about how boring it is? That doesn't mean you are asd, cmon folks, have some common sense here.. Also, when eating chocolate with your fingers (example from one of your vids) and they get all sticky and dirty, it doesn't mean you are asd or sensory overloaded if you can't stand that those fingers are sticky, it's completely normal, especially in the hygiene standards of modern days. Like I said, would love to see the vids of comparing the life of asd and normal ppl because from the vids on youtube, it seems like most of them don't even know how normals live really. You are making them looking like they are aliens haha, while most of the time they have all the same traits you are talking about in your vids.
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.
I agree. It's misconception to say it's deficit. I call it bouncing ball focus. I can focus it to bounce between 3 things, but it's extremely energy inefficient. I had 54 snickers bars one evening experimenting with it, after I had dinner and 5 other meals that day
Agreed... And controlling the conversation has a bit to do with personality, not just whether you have ADHD or not.
💯
@Ana Belladonna that's autism too.
Yes, I was going to make this same comment. When I was diagnosed they told me that it's not the inability to focus, but a different way of focusing. I've experienced hyperfocus on numerous occasions and it's almost scary how one can lose track of time while in this state.
It's suspected that many artists -- such as Michelangelo -- have a form of ADHD. Hyperfocus is probably one of the things that enabled Michelangelo to finish the Sistine Chapel.
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! 🙃
Thanks for watching and commenting. I appreciate your perspective.
This is really what I also feel like. May I ask if you got your IQ tested?
I am a late-diagnosed woman with Asd + giftedness (honestly I thought I was lacking, really) and I have discovered that the two things combined create a new profile of characteristics. It is very difficult to find sources about this, so I am researching everything about ADD.
I am starting evaluation process next week with a doctor who’s aware about high IQ profiles.
Everything is so confusing tho. Executive dysfunctions are like… spiking up, the more I try to aim my focus on all this.
Best of luck to you
Everything needs to follow a set pattern but hate repetition etc., sigh. The constant need for mental stimulation really doesn't help with sensitivity to excessive stimulus either. At least the ASD obsessive need for systemizing helps not to loose things all the time (although anything not in its set place doesn't exist anymore). Tends to feel like a strategy that should be useful for managing one side of this internal conflict just pushes the scales to the other side and the intricate balance between them is only achieved by divine providence on rare days where everything just works out.
The way they interact is both amusing and deeply frustrating. I can't plan for the life of me because if I start planning it becomes the main task and the goal is forgotten (for example).
@@skaldlouiscyphre2453 OMG yes!!! Well, more deeply frustrating for me. My ADHD is not amusing to ANYONE, & I've lost my whole family because of their intolerance. But I am a stickler/perfectionist & 'can't see the forest for the trees' ... once I DO manage to focus on something!!! It's much easier for me to hyperfocus on something I LIKE, but if it's something I HATE (like paying the bills) & someone interrupts me, it makes me really angry because I won't be able to go back & finish it! I can't even count the number of half-finished books & projects filling up my messy house that's driving me crazy! Which reminds me: I always USED to know where everything was even if it LOOKED like a mess, but now my husband is constantly MOVING my stuff, rearranging the cooking supplies in the kitchen WITHOUT ASKING or TELLING ME (!!!) ... so I've just given up on EVERYTHING, stay in bed all day, & let HIM do everything. Which, of course, he complains about. I can't win either way, so (being also physically disabled at age 60) I let him yell & take the easy route by keeping all my important stuff around my bed so I can at least guard THAT from him. My life (which I hope won't last much longer) now consists of sleeping & watching TH-cam.
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.
Great insights. Thanks so much!
Thank you, this really helps in trying to navigate the subtle differences. I am autistic but questioning adhd at the moment. So confusing to pin down the origin of some behaviors, to be able to find something that helps…
Really helpful summary. And yes, hyperfocus is a massive part of ADHD for many people I know. However, it is far less predictable/stable than having a single life-long special interest. ADHDers tend to have lives strewn with the remains of previous fixations/hobbies, now abandoned for the next one(s).
@@byrongsmith "ADHDers tend to have lives strewn with the remains of previous fixations/hobbies, now abandoned for the next one(s)."
Who told you how I live? 😅
[Insert identical Spidermans pointing at each other meme]
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.
Loving the phrase "having a racecar brain with bicycle brakes". I'm going to use this and bring examples of it with me to my ADHD assessment. Thanks 😀
Race car engine, but the diff is out of a Datsun Sunny and I've only got skinny snow tires. Something's bound to fail.
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 😅
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! 😉
I'm right there with you, during counseling and therapy I discovered that I've masked myself so much that it's hard to define who I am when asked. Think Jim Carey in "The Mask", where the mask absorbs the person.
I think we all are masking to some degree, no matter if you are on spectrum, adhd or neurotypical.. Wouldn't call it asd right away.
@@pylyo I understand your point and it's one people should remember. In my case, I'll just say a formal and expensive diagnosis makes it official.
@@pylyo Fair point. I think that can sometimes be what makes it all so confusing. The most useful sayings in that regard in my opinion are: "we all have X or do X to a certain degree, but is it debilitating/ keeping you from functioning in daily life?" and "we all have stuff to deal with, whether we have a diagnosed disability or just sh** going on in our lives". Hope it helps.
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.
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.
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.
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 going......
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 relief..... 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.
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 😀
The team that did my assessment only focused on ASD because they didn't believe that I could have ADHD based on my interactions with them. Even though I gave them many examples of how I matched the criteria. Then 6 months after I got my ASD diagnosis I took part in a group activity that the team therapist held. The group was a mix of people with ASD and ADHD. A couple of sessions after seeing me and two others that were diagnosed with ADHD interact she said: "Ok, now I get it." 🤦♀A month later I got my ADHD-i diagnosis too.
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!
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. 😉
Absolutely. I talked about it being the most common comorbidity in the video.
@@orionkelly Oh jeez. I must have been distracted at the moment that you were talking about the comorbidity thing. 🙄😂 Thanks for humoring my inattentive self. 😉
@@steveluxecable3817 😆
Great video Orion, great info - thank you! I didn't know that ADHD and ASD amplified each other.
I appreciate it Martin.
Very informative !
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!
For some reason I cannot stay on task and listen to this video. I've loved them all so far, but I have to keep going back 😆
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.
Congrats! 🎉I hope it has been beneficial to you so far. I was diagnosed with both about 4 years ago. It's really helped me to feel that it's ok that I'm different from most people, and that it's ok that my needs are different.
I also feel the conflicts between my autism and ADHD.
* I love following routines and checklists. But I loose interest in them very fast. So I have to come up with new routines all the time.
* Autistic me usually just want to stay home and relax by myself. But ADHD me is always the loudest and most energetic at get togethers.
* I have an autistic special interest. But it's interrupted by days or weeks of hyper fixating on new and shiny interests. Which I of course loose interest in before I've reached my goal.
* I come up with many cool things I want to create. But I get bogged down in the details during the research stage and end up not actually doing anything.
I’m clinically diagnosed with ADHD, my friend says that she thinks that I’m “in the spectrum”. I tend to hyper focus on my interests. I avoid crowds, loud continuous noise. I guess I should see a professional to see. Does it really matter? I love your videos, thank you.
Another great video. Thank you!
Great too hear!
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!
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.
This is the story of my life; having both autism and adhd since early childhood and the struggle in later years to isolate symptoms from each of these such that I can manage them. Annoying to deal with health-workers that are supposed to be medicating me and I can tell they have no workable knowledge or understanding to properly help me, also that people keep telling me: Ohh autistic people have special interests and they find their groove. Well if I could focus on my special interests of which there are a thousand I'd agree! Thanks for the video and keep up the good work.
So I have ADHD (inatentive type) and Autism got my ADHD diagnosis at 13 and my Autism diagnosis at 27, got diagnosed with ADHD at a ADHD specialist and he even flagged that I might have Autism but seeing as he wasnt as knowledgeable when it comes to Autism its a rather ingenting thing to have semi conflicting diagnosises im the master of organised chaos I know where all my things are but no one would be able to find anything I have been using as they would just see a pile of stuf
Hi Orion! I've been thinking a lot about this topic recently. I'm recently diagnosed with ASD and I'm wondering more and more if I also have ADHD. I guess I'm having an interesting theory on this. Bare with me: 20 years ago, definitions of Autism were completely different right, even separated Aspies from the group and all that. Plus Autism was only a handful of symptoms that we now know are the more "stereotypical" ones and often present differently in different cultures or genders. Even thinking "if you've met one autistic person, you met one autistic person" - one autistic person could be hypersensitive to something that another is hiposensitive to, right?
Well, what if we're just another 20 years behind (diagnosticly) from understanding a much bigger spectrum that actually covers the whole range of symptoms and representations of ASD and ADHD as a whole?
I don't know, something to think about, would love to hear your thoughts on it!
💯 agree Lis, there is still so much to learn about the Autistic brain. Fascinating thoughts from you. Thanks.
My son was diagnosed with ADHD but they didn't specify the type but my guess is the hyperactive type. I've assumed I am as well but haven't pursued a diagnosis, probably inattentive type. Great video and information! 🌻
I’m with you!
Do you think it's possible for some of the symptoms of autism and adhd to cancel each other out and make someone seem less like they have either?
I have a couple of things I'd like to add.
Just like with the autism criteria, none of the ADHD criteria can be interpreted as _always_ being present or _exactly_ as described. There's nuance to them.
The hyperactive/impulsive type criteria shown in the video only lists external presentations. This is common with males. But it is more common with internal presentation in women. That is why it's often missed in women.
Some people with ADHD have the "superpower" trait. So they can tap into this trait when they are really passionate about something, helping them overcome the issues they normally have. Like music artists for example.
The DSM5, in regard to ADHD, is out of date and attached to misleading labels.
Per one of the world's leading ADHD people - "ADHD is misnamed. It should be called Self Regulation Development Disorder", or "Executive Function Development Disorder" both of which are rather more serious sounding than "Hyperactive Disorder" (most adults are not hyperactive, and sufficient trauma in a child's life will lead to the child suppressing symptoms for fear of being shouted at/beaten.)
For some of us - it's a real smorgasbord of fuckery. Personally, ADHD, autism and aphantasia (no mind's eye). The mind's eye is key in personal development and longer term planning. Which probably explains why I'm 57 and still haven't figured what to be when I grow up.
ADHD is a lifelong chronic disability that leaves suffers, on average, facing a 13 years shorter life span (due to accidents, self-medication, risk taking, unhealthy lifestyles, inability to maintain a stable, healthy life, OCD issues, etc).
There's some cross over between the two conditions and some folks have both. Television portrayals of autism are unhelpful, to put it mildly, having created a stereotype "autistic person" who's a bit socially awkward but a total genius when relaxed. This too is unhelpful. ADHD has a set of symptoms, which you have in some degree or other - they are not co-morbidities, but symptoms and include, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, depression, anxiety, problems forming relationships, problems maintaining relationships, issues keeping jobs, issues with Law Enforcement - consequently, less likely to have a mortgages and so be at the mercy of private renting, debts, Court Orders to Pay, and so on. Not that "everyone with ADHD has all of these in spades", but everyone with ADHD will have more struggle than a non-ADHD person has.
The pooh cherry on the Spectrum Cake of SHit is - Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria - this is an appalling thing to have to deal with - it means emotions are hard to deal with and hit with great force. So, for example, let's say I ask you to meet me for a coffee and you refuse. That refusal will feel like being dumped by someone you love. For hours, perhaps days, I will be caught in a maelstrom of tumultuous emotions - self loathing, fear, weariness, suicidal ideation, anger, regret, pain, etc. Every single rejection/refusal feels the same. Also - zero control over emotional response. I can fall in love, go through a rough patch, make it up, ultimately fail and then divorce, every attractive person I walk past. This process takes a few minutes and I have no control over it. Try explaining that to your wife.
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is the worst part for me, even a simple job rejection feels like a hit in your soul. is the only thing that keeps me thinking about to seek medication for it since it often I get in a loop of traumatic stuff and its hard to process all the things I left kind of pending to process. after I read your comment i can relate to your situation... any tips welcome.
@@Demonmagna It is what it is. You see it coming, you let is pass through you, and then it's gone and you're still there. Radical self acceptance. Forgiveness and patience with yourself and honesty with those close to you. People get upset over what they don't understand, but once they do are often more understanding than we could hope for. Avoid external things that pull the triggers, as much as possible. Humour helps a lot. And patience. If this is how you work, railing against it is pointless. We exhaust ourselves doing this and get nowhere.
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.
Hi Orion! I was diagnosed with autism in 1971, with the DSM-3 (now known as Asperger’s Syndrome). I also have part of the ADHD disorder: overactivity and impulsivity.
I love your sense of hummer! Great video!
Interesting
Just started watching your video and was a really good video thanks for the advice 😊
Keep up the great work, Orion!
Thanks so much!
The brain is like a computer- this is something that my neurologist has more or less "beat" into my brain. My psychiatry team has since adopted this stance ever since I told them. Neural pathways are the wires and neurotransmitters and their receptors are the the plugs and receptacles of the computer. The differences in wiring between the different areas of the brain are what and how neurologists and psychiatry providers determine diagnoses and if there are any co-occuring diagnoses or disorders.
lost important things ... I just did ... I always search for things ... most of the time I find them 🤣 I can relate to some things but I don´t think I got adhd.
I’m getting an assessment in a week, how interesting
Oh, THAT'S what "deep dive" means. Totally. 🤣🤣🤣
adhd has hyperfocus as well from my understanding. This kinda throws off the last part of unable to focus for long periods in your video. 16:45
but jeez im wondering now if i was misdiagnosed with ADHD as a child. Ill have to look into this more & get checked by a professional. I hyperfocus pretty easily.
Hello Orion, thanks for the video. Is it possible to talk about bipolar vs ASD/ADHD combination
AdHD also ultra focusses
I have inattentive ADHD and I'm pretty sure I also have autism... I've tried multiple times to get a diagnosis but doctors/psychs always brush me off.
I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 28 and found that the meds kind of worked, but kind of didn't so I stopped taking them. I'm now thinking at 46 that ADHD may have been a misdiagnosis or that it is a comorbidity.
Hmmm … that’s not entirely accurate. People with ADHD also can hyperfocus. So when we want to do something/get something done, we can be laser focused for a long time.
Many psychologists are now saying that ADHD is actually on the autism spectrum. I guess thats just as controversial as saying Asperger's is on the autism spectrum. I know I have friends that refuse to be called autistic but accept being called someone with Asperger's
Kind of a back way around thing. But if you take stimulants (Adderall) and you become less irritated and calmer, it's ADHD..
Isn't ADD, ADHD but not hyperactive? Have they changed the name to inattentive?
Yep, from what I've read ADD is no longer a diagnosis and one with those symptoms would now be considered ADHD inattentive type.
actually ADHD also has hyperfocus in areas they find interest in.
Interesting topic
Actually, interest is a major factor in ADHD for being able to intensely focus on something or not. And a lack of interest is often associated with increased difficulty in focusing. If curious, information from Doctor Russel Barkley or Thomas Brown could be good starting points for more information on that and ADHD.
For example, in this video, from roughly 2:45 into the video to about 7:45, PhD Thomas Brown comments on that topic.
th-cam.com/video/ouZrZa5pLXk/w-d-xo.html
Also, as for me and interrupting... which I am sometimes guilty of... I tend to be considerate of others, but like you described for autism, if I'm passionate about something, I'm much more likely to want to say something and, well...
I don't try to dominate/control conversations but that's me anyways. That is also unthinkable for me, like you described. There are other things, such as sometimes feeling a need to passionately share something because I fear I will forget it soon if I don't ("OMG, I just had this idea and... oh no... it's going! It's going! Is it my turn to speak yet?").
Yeah, so I was diagnosed with ADHD. It was recommended (when I got a referral to get assessed for ADHD) that I ask about ASD as well, "just in case," when I was eventually seen for an assessment. I was told during my assessment that I most likely wouldn't meet the criteria for an ASD diagnosis but I was strongly encouraged to go through with the ADHD assessment. I was told at the end that some of my symptoms might be considered by some people to be "autistic like" but yeah... That's how it went for me.
I've found some autistic experiences shared by some people online to feel very familiar and relatable for me. I wonder sometimes if that is due to the overlap in symptoms between the two conditions that is sometimes discussed or if... maybe... possibly... actually being sub-clinically 'adjacent' but not 'close enough' (for lack of better expressions) to a possible diagnosis of both.
i am totally confused here.. you say asd people can be easily focused on their things of interest and can do them for hours. Well isn't it like that for neurotypical people as well? If you love and like something, especially if it is your passion, you will easily get lost in it for hours, that's why it is called passion. Sometimes I'm wondering if so called high functional autism is autism at all.. I think you should include comparisons between neurotypical vs asd more often and more precise, because I'm pretty sure many if not most of the "signs" of asd are very common among neurotypicals. Who the hack enjoys some boring speech and can be focused on it without thinking about how boring it is? That doesn't mean you are asd, cmon folks, have some common sense here.. Also, when eating chocolate with your fingers (example from one of your vids) and they get all sticky and dirty, it doesn't mean you are asd or sensory overloaded if you can't stand that those fingers are sticky, it's completely normal, especially in the hygiene standards of modern days.
Like I said, would love to see the vids of comparing the life of asd and normal ppl because from the vids on youtube, it seems like most of them don't even know how normals live really. You are making them looking like they are aliens haha, while most of the time they have all the same traits you are talking about in your vids.
I know a guy that has ADHD.