ADHD and Dyspraxia: Similarities & Differences

It can be difficult to see your child struggling – whether in their personal lives, education and more – and not know how to provide the right support to help them thrive.

And for adults presenting traits of conditions such as ADHD and dyspraxia, it can also be confusing to know where to turn. Especially with these conditions often displaying overlapping traits and symptoms.

As a result, many go too long without accessing the right support.

This may be because they put their symptoms – such as difficulty forward-planning and organising, or struggling to sit still for long periods – down to other factors, or simply have read misinformation online about their condition.

But what are the similarities and overlapping symptoms of ADHD and dyspraxia? And how can people access the right support for one or both of these conditions?

In this guide, clinical psychologist Dr Lisa Williams, explains all…

ADHD and Dyspraxia

Before we look at some of the similar traits that often present in individuals with ADHD and dyspraxia, it’s important to understand the clinical definition of each condition…

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental condition characterised by difficulties with inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity.

There are currently three recognised subtypes of ADHD – predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive and combined.

What Does ADHD Look Like in Children and Adults?

Children with attention difficulties can find it hard to concentrate on activities at school and home – often ‘flitting’ from activity to activity, avoiding reading or doing their homework. They may struggle to listen to instructions or become easily distracted, meaning they need extra prompts, reminders and redirection.

Those who experience difficulties with hyperactivity and impulsivity will find it difficult to sit still and frequently move and fidget. Parents of younger children will often report that they run and climb excessively, and can be noisy and difficult to manage in public situations – due to not being able to wait their turn or manage queues.

An adult with ADHD will experience similar traits but their difficulties may present a little differently. For example, a predominantly inattentive adult may struggle with ‘life admin’ – potentially missing bills or forgetting appointments. They can appear ‘chaotic’ and ‘disorganised’.

Hyperactivity and impulsivity in adults can be less obvious than in children, though. Adults may feel a constant sense of internal restlessness, and struggle to switch off or ‘turn down the noise’. They might feel that they constantly need to be ‘doing’ something, and people might perceive them as ‘too much’.

What is Dyspraxia?

Dyspraxia – also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) – is a developmental condition which primarily affects fine and/or gross motor coordination in children and adults.

Fine motor skills are tasks that require the small muscles in your hands and wrists (such as tying your laces, writing or doing up buttons), while gross motor skills relate to tasks that use large muscles in your arms, legs and body, such as running, jumping and climbing.

Research varies widely, but it’s estimated around 5-6% of children have dyspraxia.

Dyspraxia can impact adults and children, even if the symptoms present a little differently. A child may struggle with writing or typing, getting dressed or bike-riding, or take much longer to learn these skills.

These difficulties then persist into later life, with adults often finding it hard to learn new motor skills such as driving or handling tools and equipment, as well as underachieving in their workplace despite their intellect.

Similarities and Overlap Between ADHD and Dyspraxia

ADHD can co-occur with dyspraxia – meaning it’s possible to have one or both of these conditions. In fact, research estimates the rate of ADHD and dyspraxia co-occurrence is around 50%.

It’s even possible to have both ADHD and dyspraxia while also displaying traits of other conditions, such as dyslexia or autism.

Some traits of ADHD are similar to – or overlap with – those presented in individuals with dyspraxia. For example, people with dyspraxia often report difficulties planning and organising tasks, sitting still for a long time, staying focused and moving from one task to another.

Ultimately, these difficulties can lead to people avoiding difficult tasks, underperforming in their education or occupation, and even feeling burnt out or of low self-worth.

The Importance of ‘Differential Diagnosis’

When clinicians assess for ADHD, they are exploring whether a person fulfils the ‘diagnostic criteria’ for the condition. This means working through a ‘specified checklist’ of ‘what is needed’ to be diagnosed with that specific condition.

This is important as everyone struggles with some difficulties – but not everyone experiences them to the degree that warrants a diagnosis.

To be diagnosed with ADHD, someone needs to display ‘enough’ symptoms, across multiple settings, rather than just in one situation. They must also have had these difficulties since childhood and be significantly impaired by them (for example, the symptoms cause day-to-day difficulties in their work life, school life, social life and more).

However, it is possible to have all these criteria ‘ticked’ and still not have ADHD. There could be other reasons or conditions that better explain why a person is experiencing these difficulties.

This relates to something called a ‘differential diagnosis’ – the final part of the diagnostic criteria which involves the clinician checking that the symptoms are not better explained by another diagnosis or disorder.

For example, it may be that someone’s difficulties are better explained by high anxiety, depression or other mental health needs – or that their difficulties relate to being autistic or having a learning disability.

ADHD is a ‘lifelong diagnosis’, so clinicians must think carefully about differential diagnosis to ensure that the correct decisions are made.

How to know if it’s ADHD or Dyspraxia?

Sadly, there’s no magic formula for easily determining whether someone has ADHD, dyspraxia, neither or both.

Determining these diagnoses requires careful and comprehensive assessment by a qualified and experienced clinician, with knowledge of all these conditions.

When completing an ADHD assessment, clinicians will ask specific questions that help them disentangle which difficulties might be specific to ADHD and which could be accounted for by other conditions, like dyspraxia.

For those with ADHD, difficulties with attention and concentration occur for any task that does not feel stimulating or interesting. In contrast, a person with dyspraxia (who does not have ADHD) is more likely to be able to concentrate on activities and tasks that don’t challenge their motor needs.

For example, they can pay attention to a task they find ‘easy’ even if is boring, repetitive or requires ‘sustained mental effort’.

Therefore, an ADHD clinician will ask about the types of tasks, activities, situations and settings in which a person’s difficulties arise – assessing the ‘pervasiveness’ of the difficulties (how widespread they are for a person in their life).

Support for ADHD and Dyspraxia

If you or your child are struggling, and think this may be because of ADHD or dyspraxia, you may wish to seek further assessment. This should start with your GP.

ADHD assessments should be completed only by clinicians with the necessary experience and expertise in ADHD. Typically, this will be a psychiatrist, psychologist or an advanced nurse practitioner.

The Autism Service offers Child ADHD Assessments and Adult ADHD Assessments, designed to identify ADHD in individuals, so they get the support they need to thrive.

Our diagnostic assessments are of the standard completed by the NHS that looks at whether ADHD explains your presentation.

Find a clinic

Dyspraxia assessments tend to involve the expertise of a specialist Occupational Therapist or physiotherapist.

If your child is struggling at school, speak to their teacher (or the delegated special needs coordinator, often called a ‘SENCO’) about your concerns. They can help you think about potential adaptations your child may need in the classroom, or support you in pursuing further specialist assessment.

For adults struggling at work, it can help to approach your manager to share your concerns. They may be able to think about any adaptations to your role that might help, or support you to develop a ‘wellness action plan’.

It’s not uncommon for people with neurodevelopmental conditions, like ADHD and dyspraxia, to also struggle with their mental health. If you wish to speak with a professional about your mental health, you can visit your GP or self-refer to talking therapies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How common is dyspraxia with ADHD?

It is possible for the same individual to be diagnosed with both dyspraxia and ADHD, and research estimates the rate of ADHD and dyspraxia co-occurrence is around 50%.

However, it is also possible for traits of ADHD and dyspraxia to be similar or overlap – for example, difficulties organising or sitting still for long periods – so, it’s important to access further assessment to make sure the individual receives targeted interventions to help them thrive.

• What is the difference between dyspraxia and inattentive ADHD?

Predominantly inattentive ADHD is one of the three recognised subtypes of ADHD, and is characterised by difficulties concentrating and ‘flitting’ from activity to activity. It can present in some traits that are similar to those associated with dyspraxia, such as difficulty planning or sitting still for long periods.

While both ADHD and dyspraxia are developmental conditions, they differ in how they affect patients – with dyspraxia affecting fine and/or gross motor skills, while ADHD affects attentiveness, impulsiveness and hyperactivity.

• Can you have autism, ADHD and dyspraxia?

Yes, it is possible for the same individual to be diagnosed with autism, ADHD and dyspraxia.

However, while all three developmental conditions are unique in how they manifest in individuals, they can present in similar or overlapping traits. So, it’s important to access further assessment to make sure any potential interventions or support received are targeted to the individual.