What to Know about Autism / ADHD

Autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, are developmental and behavioral disorders which can affect children. Developmental pediatrician Dr. Alison Smoller and the nurse practitioners at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Ocean, NJ, including Steven Padula, APN, who is trained in pediatric psychiatry, provide a wide range of pediatric services including diagnosis and treatment of autism, ADHD, and other developmental disorders. They proudly serve residents of Ocean and Monmouth County, NJ.

What You Need To Know About Autism and ADHD

Autism has a wide range of characteristics from mild to severe. They include:

• Not responding when their name is called
• Not showing any interest in objects or things
• Avoiding eye contact with others
• Being unable to understand their own feelings
• Being unable to understand the feelings of other people
• Being unable to speak or is delayed in speaking
• Repeating the same words or phrases
• Not doing well with change in their routine
• Performing repetitive actions like hand clapping, spinning, or rocking
• Having problems socializing or talking with other children
• Avoiding physical contact with other children or adults

ADHD also has a wide range of signs and symptoms, including:

• Difficulty staying still for a long period of time
• Frequently fidgeting or squirming around
• Difficulty getting and staying organized
• Often losing or forgetting things
• Frequently not listening or following directions
• Difficulty paying attention to details
• Excessively talking or blurting out comments
• Running or climbing at inappropriate times

As you can see, there is some overlap in signs and symptoms of both conditions. In fact, ADHD affects 30 to 60 percent of children with autism. If your child is exhibiting any of the signs and symptoms listed above, your child can benefit from a developmental/behavioral screening by the pediatrician or psychiatric provider.

If your child has autism or ADHD, there is a good chance your child might also suffer from behavioral disorders like anxiety and depression. Routine screening for autism is performed at 18 and 24 months. Your child can also be screened for ADHD.

Want To Know More?

To discover more autism, ADHD, and associated developmental and psychiatric medical conditions, talk with the experts. Call developmental pediatrician Dr. Alison Smoller and the nurse practitioners at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey, serving residents of Ocean and Monmouth County, NJ. You can reach them in the office by calling (732) 660-0220, so call today.