Communication difficulties are characteristic of autism. Some children with ADHD also have these difficulties, but they typically present in different ways.

Children with ADHD may:

• talk continually
• want to have the last word
• not notice how their words affect other people
• interrupt others

Autistic children may:

• have difficulty expressing their emotions and thoughts
• not use gestures to communicate
• struggle with eye contact
• fixate on one topic of conversation
• play differently — they may not understand turn-taking or imaginative play
• not initiate or respond to social interactions