Why Some Children on the Autism Spectrum Are Misdiagnosed with ADHD

Most children with symptoms formerly associated with Asperger's Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, receive an ADHD diagnosis -- or misdiagnosis -- before a pediatrician concludes that it’s AS. The symptoms of autism spectrum disorders and ADHD overlap. Most children on the autism spectrum have symptoms of ADHD -- difficulty settling down, social awkwardness, the ability to focus only on things that interest them, and impulsivity.