Comparison Between Autism And ADHD

INTRODUCTION
This research paper is successfully discussing how teachers may be able to distinguish between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Autism mostly used changeably with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Initially the paper will apprehend operational terms that are going to be used throughout this paper, and this terms are Developmental disorders, ADHD, ODD and ASD. The paper will also discuss the comparisons between ADHD, ODD and ASD respectively. Furthermore the paper will describe how to address disruptive or distractible behaviors displayed by learners with ADHD while attending to other students with ODD and ASD.
DEFINITION OF OPERATIONAL TERMS
Developmental disorders: the

The core features of ADHD are hyperactive behavior, impulsivity and inability to sustain attention which negatively have a hand on a child’s academic flourish, social and home environments. Barkley (2006) elaborate more on ADHD traits, He states that ADHD is “characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that are exhibited across their life span”. The causes of ADHD are attributed to genetic factors and heredity is cited as playing a major role in causing ADHD. An increasing number of studies indicate a substantiate connection between the development of ADHD and genes that influence the dopamine and serotonin which are vital for controlling movement, motivation and impulse

According to CDC (2002), over one third of children having ADHD have a different psychiatric diagnosis, and one of the most common diagnoses to be found with ADHD is ODD. It is evident that ODD children share some characters with the hyperactivity and impulsive domain of ADHD. They exhibit frequent anger, a short temper and a lack of cooperation. To distinguish between ADHD and ODD, educators should deeply study learners’ behaviors as displayed in different environments, the rate at which they show behaviors and how many times do they show these behaviors. To distinguish between ADHD and ODD, someone should be able to identify the traits displayed by these learner, and the characteristics that are demonstrated ODD learners include frequent temper tantrums, excessive arguments with authority or even adults, refusal to follow rules and regulations in schools, intentional behavior to annoy other counterparts, speaking harshly and seeking revenge whereas learners with ADHD demonstrate behaviors of impulsivity, inattention and hyperactivity as the main