If you combined ADD with Autism would it make a Super Genius or A Super Sped?

[WinchesterPremium]

ADD makes someone easily distracted and unfocused.
Autism makes someone hyperfocused but on one specific thing.

If you had both together would they:
A) Cancel out and make a normy
B) Create a super genius who can hyper focus on everything
C) Create the world's greatest sped?

 

[SevenEightNine]

ADD is marked by hyperfocus. You just can't really pick what to hyperfocus on.

 

[Agent Abe Caprine]

It's actually a very common combination. Most autists with ADHD/ADD are not geniuses.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

Most are crazy focused -- just on stupid shit. As I read the other day, they will have super-specialized interests, like knowing the names of all the stars but have no fucking clue what a galaxy is.

 

[Lobotomite Hot Gaming]

It isn't particularly uncommon, typically those with both don't fall onto either side except for extremely intense fixations on any random subject. Definitely not normies though, far from. Sped side depends on how bad the autism is.

 

[Cheerlead-in-Chief]

They're linked so it'd just make a sped.

 

[Ultrapenguin]

Yeah but ADHD isn't a real independent disorder, so you can't really "have" it.

It's just that diagnosing people as excessively creative and thoughtful in a stagnant, grey, overpopulated world and scripting them "better immerse yourself in your role as human cattle" pills would all be a little too honest and long winded to go on a doctor's script pad.

 

[Fascist Frederick]

We refer to that as "Light Sped" or "The Sped of Light"

 

[Meat Target]

You get me.

 

[Jimmy Olsen]

Warning: POWERLEVEL

In my experience, it makes for the strangest combination of sped and uber-normie I've ever seen. Yet again, he was sixties baby back before they tested for that sort of thing, so while he demonstrates signature behaviors of both enough so that acquaintances educated in psychological fields have mentioned it to us, we'll never know for sure what exactly which wire crossed inside that peculiar, often irritating, but deep down good-hearted head (even if people sometimes want to bash their own in when forced to listen to his tangents).

Oh, and really good spatial skills. Probably some of the best out of anyone I've met personally. Overall above average intelligence and well educated, though he struggles significantly in organizing day-to-day tasks not related to his interests. He can perform well in a high-paying job because it directly ties into an interest of his, but if nobody was there to pack his lunch, he'd probably never eat a proper one again.

 

[Lord of the Large Pants]

Overlap between autism and ADD is something like 30%, according to a doctor I know who specializes in that sort of thing.

 

[JethroTullamore]

Either way you look at it, they’ll be a Sonic fan.

 

[SevenEightNine]

ADHD is typically characterized by poor spatial and temporal awareness. It's why ADHD people are late all the time. They got hyperfocused on something else and literally have no idea how much time had passed. The 3D spatial awareness extends to proprioception/body awareness. What is read as "fidgeting" or distraction is often just the continuous process of trying to figure out where you are in 3D space. This is nearly impossible to explain to someone who doesn't have this problem.

Actual conversation:

*paused standing at kitchen counter looking confused*

"Oh man. You're really trying to decide if those leftovers are going to fit in that container."

"Shut up.... They will, right?"

"... No. Not even close."

---

Both people in the above convo have mechanical engineering degrees and are successful working engineers. One got an "A" in drafting class, the other worked their ass off to get a "C". Both graduated in the top quarter of their year at a large, competitive university.

For this reason, I believe one of the best recommendations for kids struggling with ADHD is (before medication, but after making a solid attempt at healthy diet and regular enforced routine bedtime) some kind of physical activity that improves body awareness. Things like wrestling or jiu-jitsu, horseback riding with decent horses, dance or marital arts. The benefits can't be overstated.

Of interest, some autists and people with true dyslexia often have the opposite, hyperawareness of 3d space and are incredibly skilled at drawing, 3d modelling, etc. "The Gift of Dyslexia" is worth a read.

ADHD can be comorbid with the developmental delays that mark autism, but the majority of people with ADHD (the kind marked by neurotransmitter activity and a paradoxical response to most stimulants) do not have delayed development, and intelligence parallels population averages.

Highly intelligent people with ADHD come up with coping mechanisms to deal with the issues. You can train yourself to perceive time accurately if you use your heart rate as a sign post. You can use your own height, hand, foot size to measure distances. You can adopt all sorts of routines if you have the discipline to stick to it. Medication can be a bit of a bridge that makes it easier, but it isn't magic.

Warning: POWERLEVEL

In my experience, it makes for the strangest combination of sped and uber-normie I've ever seen. Yet again, he was sixties baby back before they tested for that sort of thing, so while he demonstrates signature behaviors of both enough so that acquaintances educated in psychological fields have mentioned it to us, we'll never know for sure what exactly which wire crossed inside that peculiar, often irritating, but deep down good-hearted head (even if people sometimes want to bash their own in when forced to listen to his tangents).

Oh, and really good spatial skills. Probably some of the best out of anyone I've met personally. Overall above average intelligence and well educated, though he struggles significantly in organizing day-to-day tasks not related to his interests. He can perform well in a high-paying job because it directly ties into an interest of his, but if nobody was there to pack his lunch, he'd probably never eat a proper one again.

 

[Jimmy Olsen]

ADHD is typically characterized by poor spatial and temporal awareness. It's why ADHD people are late all the time. They got hyperfocused on something else and literally have no idea how much time had passed. The 3D spatial awareness extends to proprioception/body awareness. What is read as "fidgeting" or distraction is often just the continuous process of trying to figure out where you are in 3D space. This is nearly impossible to explain to someone who doesn't have this problem.

Actual conversation:

*paused standing at kitchen counter looking confused*

"Oh man. You're really trying to decide if those leftovers are going to fit in that container."

"Shut up.... They will, right?"

"... No. Not even close."

---

Both people in the above convo have mechanical engineering degrees and are successful working engineers. One got an "A" in drafting class, the other worked their ass off to get a "C". Both graduated in the top quarter of their year at a large, competitive university.

For this reason, I believe one of the best recommendations for kids struggling with ADHD is (before medication, but after making a solid attempt at healthy diet and regular enforced routine bedtime) some kind of physical activity that improves body awareness. Things like wrestling or jiu-jitsu, horseback riding with decent horses, dance or marital arts. The benefits can't be overstated.

Of interest, some autists and people with true dyslexia often have the opposite, hyperawareness of 3d space and are incredibly skilled at drawing, 3d modelling, etc. "The Gift of Dyslexia" is worth a read.

ADHD can be comorbid with the developmental delays that mark autism, but the majority of people with ADHD (the kind marked by neurotransmitter activity and a paradoxical response to most stimulants) do not have delayed development, and intelligence parallels population averages.

Highly intelligent people with ADHD come up with coping mechanisms to deal with the issues. You can train yourself to perceive time accurately if you use your heart rate as a sign post. You can use your own height, hand, foot size to measure distances. You can adopt all sorts of routines if you have the discipline to stick to it. Medication can be a bit of a bridge that makes it easier, but it isn't magic.

Huh, neat. Again, nobody knows for sure if this guy has ADHD, and I guess this is another sign that might not be the issue.

I'll give The Gift of Dyslexia a read. It sounds interesting.