AS or ADHD?

Don't ADHD or ADDers behave like AS folk? Can anyone explain where exactly the paths split?

They're pretty different. It wouldn't be correct to say that somewhere 'the 'paths split' becuase they're not on the same path. In fact, many Aspergers are diagnosed with ADHD or ADD before AS because it can mask the signs of Aspergers. For example, one trait of Aspergers is to be able to get very absorbed in something whereas ADD will give one a short attention span, or ADHD will make one hyper when a more typical AS personality is a quiet one.

Well according to the volumes and volumes of reading I've done on ADHD, "hyperfocus" is a common behavior in ADHD folks. So they'll bounce from activity to activity in pursuit of stimulation, but when they find something of interest, they hyper-focus and then have trouble shifting their attention...don't hear or notice anything going on around them...in fact, it's a characteristic more common with the innatentive types.

Naming one trait common between two different things is not evidence that they are related. It's like saying that diabetics and flu are related because fatigue is symptomatic of both. Once you read more on Aspergers you'll see that they are not the same. Try Tony Attwood and things written by people who are Aspergers. (And Tony Attwood's site has some recommendations for books written by people who are Aspergers as well as other books.)

That's a great reply. And if you don't mind I'll plan to use it at the next meeting of school personnel who are Asperger-happy. You know, I think the diagnosis is a huge relief to parents and children who need an answer to their concerns...but I also think it's a huge disservice to kids who display some of the characteristics to get tossed in Asperger bucket. A diagnosis of Autism/high-functioning or otherwise, has a greater risk of changing how others perceive a child and his/her potential. I think it (unconsciously) changes a teachers beliefs about the child.

Sure. (Even though I meant to say 'diabetes' instead of 'diabetics' ) I agree that it's a relief but then can also be a liability, depending upon what reaction and response it creates in people, depending upon their knowledge, understanding and (sadly) opinion of Aspergers. And there's a spectrum that covers a large ground but then there's someone who has traits of Aspergers but is not Aspergers, as you say. It's going to be a confusing mess for awhile. A lot is going to depend on teachers like you trying to understand, which is commendable.

My husband and I have taken a 7-year old boy under our wings who my husband and I strongly feel is Aspergers. His mother is a single parent (his father died) and was feeling a little overwhelmed. He was misdiagnosed ADD and given a drug (I forgot which) that produced some bad side effects in him and changed his personality negatively. She took him off the drug and around the same time (coincidentally) we told her he may be Aspergers. She was so relieved because she saw him in the characteristics. He saw himself as well and kept saying, "Yes, that's how I feel" "Yes, that's me!" My husband is not Aspergers but very understanding of it and helpful as a go-between. The boy responds so well to my husband--loves him and he's also a father figure which the boy craves, as well as myself--we have a connection, and he sees that I understand him and can explain him to his mother and even my husband who doesn't have my point of view, and has really blossomed. His mother cried the last time we brought him home because she saw how happy he was. I don't know if his mother will seek a diagnosis, but having people that understand us makes a huge difference between our clamming up and going into a shell, and blossoming.