Autism is a developmental disorder that impacts social interaction, language acquisition, and repetitive behavior (Gargaro, Rinehart, Bradshaw, Tonge, & Sheppard, 2011). The disorder affects males at a higher rate at a ratio of 4-5 to 1, and in the American population has a prevalence rate of 0.9% (Gargaro et al., 2011). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common neuro-developmental disorder that is characterized by inattentiveness and impulsivity (Gargaro et al., 2011). The prevalence of ADHD in the American population is elevated in comparison to autism, with a prevalence rate of 3-7% among school age children (Gargaro et al., 2011). ADHD also affects males at a higher rate than females at a ratio of 6.4:1 (Gargaro et al., 2011).
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Partially to blame for the lack of research, concerning the overlap and possibility of co-morbidity, is the non-specificity of the symptoms of both disorders ( Gargaro et al., 2011). However, there is now an awareness that some of the additional behaviors found in individuals with autism are neurological features of ADHD ( Gargaro et al., 2011). ADHD has been known to interact with other frontostriatal disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder, but although autism is a frontostriatal disorder it is not considered to share co-morbidity with ADHD ( Gargaro et al.,
Partially to blame for the lack of research, concerning the overlap and possibility of co-morbidity, is the non-specificity of the symptoms of both disorders ( Gargaro et al., 2011). However, there is now an awareness that some of the additional behaviors found in individuals with autism are neurological features of ADHD ( Gargaro et al., 2011). ADHD has been known to interact with other frontostriatal disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder, but although autism is a frontostriatal disorder it is not considered to share co-morbidity with ADHD ( Gargaro et al.,