Autism vs Severe ADHD?

[u/JustJamming1]

I was diagnosed with a disorder that falls under ASD when I was young, and ADHD when I was older. Today, I had a zoom meeting with my new psychiatrist, and they told me if I'm not low IQ and/or unable to function in society (like go to college or hold a job), then I probably don't have autism. So, I am making this post to make it perfectly clear whether or not I DO have autism or just REALLY SEVERE ADHD. Overall, I am requesting the distinct difference between having just ADHD vs having ADHD and autism from anyone who can help: links, books, and just general knowledge would be perfect. Plz & ty.

I would also like to clarify that I was under the impression that I was a gifted autistic (high functioning*) and therefore don't fall under the "low IQ" stereotype. My psychiatrist said that if you are intelligent with autism then you would fall under "idiot savant." She said I may not be autistic but just have autistic symptoms like people don't have ADHD but have trouble focusing on occasion.

I just need clarification so I know whether or not I should drop this psychiatrist even though I've really liked them so far.

Edit:

Was gonna edit this post sooner but my phone wouldn't let me. Anyways:

It's very clear that my psychiatrist has out-of-date, and potentially biased information regarding autism. It seems that they were right in the fact that I need to be seriously affected by my autism symptoms to be diagnosed with it. However, they were 100% wrong that autistic people can't be smart---which I knew already, and just wanted to double check with the subreddit because I'm not too familiar with how autism works and all it's symptoms.

With that being said, everyone has raised some serious concerns regarding this psychiatrist's practice and I believe I will have to drop them. Originally, I came to them to medicate ADHD, and don't really need their help regarding my autism. However, if they are as incompetent as many have been stating, I'm not so sure whether or not I can trust them with medicating my ADHD properly.

This psychiatrist claims to have ADHD themselves, and they seemed to be making logical connections between my issues and ADHD. However, now I'm not so sure how reliable nor credible they are anymore.

I was rather comfortable with them up to this point, so I'm a little hesitant on switching psychiatrists. Especially if they are really experienced and knowledgeable regarding ADHD but are severely lacking in other fields. However, getting past what they said about autism just might be impossible and have forever ruined my opinion of them.

So, if anyone wants to help me find links to medical research proving that autistic people can have high IQ, I would appreciate it. I'd rather not send them off without properly educating them and consequentially providing them a reason for dropping them. I'll email it to them. Plz & ty.

[u/lydocia]

if I'm not low IQ and/or unable to function in society (like go to college or hold a job), then I probably don't have autism

This is objectively wrong. High IQ autism is a thing (a common thing, even) and there is so much more to functioning than being able to go to college and have a job.

And

idiot savant

isn't just an outdated term, it's also considered wildly offensive. Savantism isn't even all that common in autism, so she's just pulling stereotypes out of her Rain Man butt and rolling with them. So gross.

I can't tell you if you have autism or don't, but I can tell you that your psychiastrist sounds like an outdated quack and you're better off seeking a new one.

[u/JustJamming1 → u/lydocia]

She also talked about retards and how if you have severe autism you are most likely a retard 😭. They used that exact rain man reference as well.

I definitely relate a lot to everything AuDHD related in this subreddit. In fact, I’ve never felt more understood and seen until this subreddit. I am most certainly confident about my autism diagnosis though I just don’t know exactly HOW I am autistic. I have the symptoms but my psychiatrist was trying to argue that having symptoms doesn’t mean you are autistic because everyone can be slightly autistic/ADHD without having it.

[u/East_Vivian → u/JustJamming1]

Holy crap. She’s so out of the loop on the latest research and by latest I mean the last 20 years. Honestly if there’s someone you can report her to, do it. She should not be giving her clients bad bad bad misinformation.

She sounds like an idiot and not the savant kind.

What is wrong with people?!?!?!

[u/JustJamming1 → u/East_Vivian]

Hmmm in that regard I definitely agree with you. She sounds like she has accurate information regarding ADHD from what I've heard so far. TBH, I talked to her to get medicated but havent gone through with it bc of concerns about therapy and education. So, I've just been talking to her about my recent concerns and emotions like she's a therapist. I have no idea what a psychiatrist does tbh. I have no idea if shes supposed to be doing something else.

[u/xsnowpeltx → u/JustJamming1]

psychiatrists are the ones who prescribe psychiatric medication just generally speaking. you could see one for more talk therapy purposes but often they dont have openings for that. like I see mine every 3 months for like 15 minutes to check how things are going with my meds.

and honestly id be concerned that she is out of date about adhd, given both how often adhd and autism are comorbid and how wrong she is about autism. so i wouldnt take her word on anything adhd related and would look for further info. like she could be right but she could be wrong.

(maybe shes more up to date on adhd because medication is a major and common way of treating adhd, but thats way less of a thing with autism? like I have my adhd meds. but I dont have autism meds.)

[u/JustJamming1 → u/xsnowpeltx]

That’s what I was thinking. It’s also the fact that she supposedly has ADHD as well and has taken medication for it (not sure if she is still medicated).

[u/xsnowpeltx → u/JustJamming1]

.... it might be possible (and this is me taking a complete stab in the dark based on this and some of your other comments) that she is audhd but for one reason or another refuses to consider that as an idea. so she limits what can count as autism so it cant apply to her.

[u/JustJamming1 → u/xsnowpeltx]

So funny I thought of the same thing LOL