Dyspraxia sensory processing versus ASD processing versus ADHD processing

[ALADDIN]

I have dyspraxia, ADHD, aspergers traits.

Someone told me the sensory processing issue is dyspraxic ?

Is identifying the sensory issue ASD ?

What is the difference ?

Can sensory processing causes people with ADHD to behave in a certain way ?

[Tom fod]

Hi again

I believe it is complex and unique to the individual.

I have Dyspraxia/ dyspraxic tendencies. I do have some traits of ADHD but not enough that I feel I need to pursue diagnosis or seek medication (generally my coping strategies work so I'm fortunate).

Similarly I do believe I experience some of the things those with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) experience. Again I feel fortunate that in my own case I can put up with it, over trying to pursue formal diagnosis in order to get any help that might be available.

I think that one way we might look at is that maybe the Autistic and Dyspraxic Spectrums possibly converge. However, that is pure conjecture (guesswork) from a my own personal Dyspraxic perspective.

A person could be Autistic but equally might be Dyspraxic, Have SPD and/or ADHD, or any one or a combination of the aforementioned conditions or experience traits common to any one of the other conditions.

Confused? We all are! it just goes with the territory regrettably.

[Susan69]

I was told I had autism once (many years ago) though I think my speech problems that I've had since childhood are verbal dyspraxia. I also have always had mild balance and co-ordination issues (could walk but never mastered swimming, ice skating, driving etc). I was a teen before mastering some fine motor skills too (neat handwriting, drawing skills, controlling a character on video games/timing jumps etc).

In my 50's now and also been developing arthritis symptoms over the last few years which seem to get worse every winter so can't walk distances now due to it in knees and starting in my hips this year.

Back to sensory issues I've always had severe hypersensitivity to sound since early childhood but also always struggled making sense of what people were saying to me particuarly if there was more than one noise at once. I think its Auditory Processing Disorder which again common in autism. I don't know if its common with Dyspraxia too?

I'd never heard of Dyspraxia until more recently so didn't know 'autistic-like social & sensory difficulties' were a part of it.

I originally found this site after trying to find what my speech difficulties are called that I've always had as despite speech therapy at 2 different schools I still even now in my 50's really struggle to physically get words out even though I know exactly what I want to say and have a really bad stammer when trying to speak at a normal volume.

I'm not sure if there's an emotional link cos when I'm home alone I can talk to the dog fine but faced with another person waiting for a reply its like it triggers a blind panic which suddenly blocks the ability of the messages to get from the brain to my mouth and every word is a struggle to get out and physically exhausting.

[Tom fod]

Hi Susan

I too have have some auditory processing difficulties. Not sure to what degree my short term memory also affects this.

There do seem to be quite a few common traits that folk on the Autistic Spectrum also share. For example I like to be ultra precise about things as a coping strategy to combat uncertainty and this probably comes across to the unenlightened as an 'Autistic thing'. Equally I would also say I have some ADHD traits. I don't consider them significant enough for me to meet the ADHD threshold so have not pursued testing.

Some folk with Dyspraxia also have Hypermobility Syndrome, EDS or other co-occurring conditions.

These difficulties can also make us prone to anxiety and other mental health/emotional well-being struggles and this can detrimentally affect short term memory, confidence and self esteem

It's a complex web and other peoples lack of awareness and understanding don't help.

[The new luddite]

Hi all,

yeah is a really complex one I think that's why even trained professionals are often cautious about giving diagnoses.

When I was at uni, the local authority ed psych suggested I may have some form of mild higher functioning autism (which was a horrible shock to me) but the uni ed psych and my disability support tutor said that although I do have some autistic spectrum traits its not uncommon in Dyspraxics (it actually caused a bit of a spat) so to this day my diagnosis is Dyspraxia and cerebral palsy (fairly mild).

Again although I've never been officially diagnosed I'm pretty sure I have some form of sensory processing issue, I find it really hard to be in rooms full of people talking, it feels like my brain is trying to process every thing as one "lump" its mentally exhausting.

I think the bottom line is that the human brain is the most complex lump of matter in the known universe ( and IMHO if it is the most complex thing in the universe were all screwed but that's another conversation. )

Although there will always be overlaps its a completely individual thing, the problem comes with the human need to categorise and pigeon hole everything that's why I like the term Neurodiverse I think it gets over the idea that your brains just wired a bit different, the only time I've found saying I have X,Y or Z useful is when trying to get official support.