Definitions of Autism and ADHD

How medical definitions of Autism and ADHD affect patient diagnoses and societal behavior

Created By Lauryn Wade

In the world of medicine, definitions and criteria for various physical and mental conditions change with time, meaning there is still more to learn.

The History of ADHD

"A Brief History of ADHD" Tom Masters (2021)

"How Autism Became Autism" Bonnie Evans (2013)

The History of Autism

“The Comorbidity of ADHD with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Implications for Diagnosis and Management.” Russell Barkley(2023)

What is the difference between Autism and ADHD?

"Why the increase in Autism (ASD), ADHD and Neurodevelopmental Disorders?" Dr. Jacques Duff (2021)

How is ADHD/ ASD Diagnosed Today?

How is Autism Interpreted and Portrayed?

"Piecing Together the Mystery: A look at the portrayal of autism in the 1940s, 1970s, and today." Elizabeth D. (2019)

"How the Media Represents ADHD" David Goodman (2014)

How is ADHD Interpreted and Portrayed?

Role - Why it Matters

What are the social Implications?

Much like how those with Autism got better accomodations and treatment from those around them depending on the portrayal of the condition, ADHD is the same. Instead of letting those with the disorder share their own experiences, for a long time, they were spoken for by medical professionals, feeling dehumanized and underrepresented. Representation and personal accounts contribute greatly to the knowledge on how to better accomodate and treat those with ADHD, otherwise assumptions can be made that do not really help the individuals at all.

• Bart Simpson is an example of an individual represented with ADHD in media. It is never explicitly said in most episodes in which he appears, however his representation is not bastardized or overtly negative as well. Bart Simpson can represent a neutral representation of what it could be like to have ADHD.

Autism Throughout History

Understanding History

The term autism was coined in 1911 Germany by Eugen Bleuler to describe severe cases of schizophrenia. Autism as a word described an "inner life" of hallucinations and dilusions until 1950. It then began to mean the opposite; close to no inner brain activity. Classified as "mentally retarded" most people diagnosed with autism were sent into mental institutions. This changed with a rise in diagnoses in the 1960s, letting Autistic individuals out of the institutions to better educational settings. Autism was considered a phsychotic disorder, later shifting to an environmental disability later on when the study was standardized in 1960, and still wildly inaccurate.

Why the increase in ASD and ADHD?

It's a Modern Understanding

As quite literally a modern understanding, the lifestyle of the average child most millenium is much different than that of a child born within the past 100 years before it. Environmental factors have shown to play a significant role in the development of both Autism and ADHD, and as such, is an alternative way to look at treatment. One of the biggest environmental factors being the food we eat. Not only is a lot of it unhealthy on its own, it may be contributing directly to the rise of these mental conditions. This could shift the perspective completely away from prescribed medications and theraputic approaches from doctors.

ADHD Throughout History

Overview

At first, the American Psychological Association (APA) did not recognize ADHD as a disorder in its first edition. The first record of the "attention deficit" was marked by George Frederik Still. Once it was recognized, the first medicinal treatment of ADHD was introduced and approved by the FDA in 1955 (Ritalin.)ADD was seperate for its notable lack of "hyperactivity" in the 1980's, simply labeled as an attention deficit. ADHD then began to become more commonly diagnosed after 1990, cases growing exponentially so after ADD became synonymous with ADHD.

What Classifies ADHD?

Overview

ADHD is a compilation of deficiencies in the brain's primary "executive" functions, such as attention, self-awareness, memory, and self-regulation. ADHD is devloped later in life in later stages of adolecense or pre-teenage years. ADHD is more of a quantitative disorder, effecting the way that people with it are able to accomplish tasks, or control impulses. Both are fundementally different in how they are structured in the brain, with Autism a different shape and structure of the Amygdala and cerebellum.

• Highlighting the qualitative versus quantatative attributes of ADHD versus Autism can be done through observing brain activity and structure.

How Were People With Autism Treated Socially?

Over time, it has been discussed to look past the disability to instead look at the individual. Elizabeth in her research differentiated "identity first language" compared to "individual first language." The primary example being "person with autism" versus "autistic person." This shift in language also marked the end of outdated labels such as "retardation" that both forced those with Autism to identify with their disorder as well as those around them potentially dehumanizing them as well. Dehumanizing those with Autism had dwindled over time as language changed with better research.

What Classifies Autism?

Overview

ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is often diganosed earlier in life, as young as 12 months old, and criteria of diagnosis does not require a prolonged period of time with Autistic symptoms. ASD is more of a persistent deficit in social communication or interaction, and repetative behavioral patterns. ASD is more of a qualitative disorder as it is a direct tie into a child's development into growing older.

• Image provided by Stanford University

Role - Why it Matters

What are the Social Implications?

How Autism is described and portrayed directly ties into how the family, friends, and guardians treat those with Autsim. Misunderstanding the disorder itself can drive those in circles either aiming to solve the wrong issue, or ignoring the issue all together. Treatment and societal integration has only improved recently because of the change from trying to find a cure, to trying to find a way to accomodate. Accomodation and talking with those with the disorder have only grown the knowledge base of Autism and will continue to grow it into the near future.

• Autism Speaks is an example of bad portrayal that labeled it as a disease that destroyed the lives of parents and children. This portrayal only instilled fear rather than solving a specific problem for those with Autism.

How Were People with ADHD Treated Socially?

Having a much more established history and quantitative symptoms, at it's worst ADHD was portrayed as extreme behavioral issues, but in one way or another could be solved. Either through therapy or through medication, which were the two biggest solutions coined to people throughout the past 50 years. Though those with ADHD were never addressed as individuals throughout a lot of this time, and much like how Autism was spoken about, it was a line of doctors wanting to speak for them, not giving a chance for personal testimony or opinions from those with ADHD to go to the general public.

Role - Why it Matters

Is there more to learn?

A new perspective on what causes the development of both ASD and ADHD can change the way they both are treated completely. If something is able to shift on a societal level, it may be easier for those with ADHD and ASD to take control of their disorder, or potentially avoid it all-together. Not only would doctors be left less in the dark, but so would the general populous and their children. Nutritional deficiencies are not only a concern for mental disorders, but the health of everyone with or without them as well. Tackling other issues like obesity and various physical diseases.

Role - Why it Matters

Understanding History

ADHD has been long understood and reasearched compared to more severe or rare mental disorders. Since ADHD is so familiar to both doctors and the public, it has an impact on how it is diagnosed and how those with the disorder are accomodated within society.A longer history breeds a better understanding and more references for doctors to look back upon and reflect with. If we are more familiar to some disorders compared to others, what does that imply for rare and conditions with fewer references?

• Sir George Frederic Still
• Creator and documentor of the first diagnosis of "otherwise (normal children) had problems with attention and self-control."

PhD Russell Barkely explains a brief history of Autism and ADHD and distinguishes the difference between the two mental conditions. This is the starting point of contrasting the two and developing a deeper understanding on how the conditions are interpreted with current knowledge.

Role - Why it Matters

It's a Modern Understanding

With the growth of the internet and social media, knowledge about mental disorders are more accessible than ever. Though, the spread of misinformation is as well. It is a common misconception that neurodivergent indivduals themselves fall onto the Autism spectrum, especially those who experience ADHD, when they are both seperate conditions. At times, some may have both simultaneously. Reaching a well-informed understanding of both disorders will make for quicker medical progress, leading to more accurate treatment, diagnoses, and accomodations.

Role - Why it Matters

Understanding History

Autism as it is understood today separate from its "psychotic" or "hallucinatory" counterparts is still a new concept. Organizations such as "Autism Speaks" still misrepresents the disorder as some sort of physical illness brought on upon a child's environment, and not a disregulation in their brain. Even though modern science does not support this, not enough time has passed for the public consensus to be the same.

• Hans Asperger, namesake for Asperger's, coined for patients with "autistic psychopathy" or social difficulty.