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Updated: Jan 19, 2026
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Autistic spectrum disorder symptoms in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a
Jack Hollingdale1, Emma Woodhouse2, Susan Young3
1University College London, London, UK.
Background:
Research identifies highly variable prevalence estimates for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), particularly between community and clinical samples, warranting quantitative meta-analyses to investigate the true prevalence of ASD in children and adolescents with ADHD.
Methods:
Studies were identified through a systematic literature search of PsycINFO, MEDLINE and Web of Science through January 2018. Twenty-two publications met inclusion criteria (total N = 61 985). Two random effects meta-analyses were conducted: (1) to identify the proportion of children and adolescents with ADHD that met criteria for ASD; and (2) to compare the severity of dimensionally-measured ASD symptomology in children and adolescents with and without ADHD.
Results:
The overall pooled effect for children and adolescents with ADHD who met threshold for ASD was 21%. There was no significant difference between community samples (19%) and clinical samples (24%) or between US studies v. those from other countries. Children and adolescents with ADHD had substantially more dimensionally-measured ASD traits compared with those who did not have ADHD (d = 1.23).
Conclusion:
The findings provide further evidence that ADHD and ASD are associated in nature. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
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