15.10 Disorders in Childhood — The Brain Science Behind ADHD and Autism | Psychology 2e

• Understand the complexity of diagnosing neurodevelopmental disorders compared to physical injuries.
• Learn the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, including inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
• Understand how ADHD persists into adulthood and its significant long-term consequences on life outcomes.
• Explore the high rates of co-occurring mental health conditions in adults with persistent ADHD.
• Learn about the genetic and neurochemical underpinnings of ADHD, focusing on dopamine.
• Understand the structural brain differences and environmental triggers associated with ADHD.
• Identify the four main explanations for the recent surge in ADHD diagnosis rates.
• Learn the historical context and fundamental nature of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Understand the three primary diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Differentiate ASD from intellectual disability and understand why Asperger's is now part of the ASD spectrum.
• Examine the dramatic increase in ASD diagnoses and the real-world impact of diagnostic changes.
• Understand the genetic and neurological factors contributing to Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Learn the scientific evidence that disproves any link between vaccines and autism.
• Understand the psychological bias of illusory correlation and why the vaccine-autism myth persists.
• Recognize that neurodevelopmental disorders are rooted in biological reality, fostering empathy and effective interventions.
• Up next in “Psychology 2e — Full Course (OpenStax) | Intro Psychology Lectures”16.1 Mental Health Treatment Past and Present — From Asylums to Prison Cells | Psychology 2e

This lesson explores two major neurodevelopmental disorders — ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) — through the lens of biology, genetics, and real-world outcomes. Using the case of a child named Diego, longitudinal research, and a close look at debunked myths, the video unpacks what actually happens in the brain and what that means across a lifetime. You'll walk away with a clearer, science-grounded understanding of conditions that affect millions of children and adults worldwide. In this video: • How ADHD is defined by two clinical pillars — inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity — and why the threshold is interference with normal functioning • Longitudinal outcomes for untreated ADHD: the Klein et al. (2012) study linking childhood ADHD to lower education, unemployment, substance abuse, and higher divorce rates • The neurobiology of ADHD: dopamine deficits in the frontal lobe, structural brain differences, and why stimulant medications work • Four explanations for rising ADHD diagnosis rates, including overdiagnosis, greater awareness, shifting DSM criteria, and attention-fracturing technology • Leo Kanner's 1943 discovery of early infantile autism and the three core disturbances of ASD: social interaction deficits, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors • Why Asperger's disorder was folded into the Autism Spectrum in the DSM-5, and the real-world impact that reclassification had on families • The fraudulent MMR vaccine study, the DeStefano et al. (2013) immunogen data that disproved any link to autism, and the psychology of why the myth persists #OpenStax #Psychology #ADHD #AutismSpectrumDisorder #Neurodevelopment OpenStax Content adapted from "OpenStax Psychology 2e", by OpenStax licensed under CC BY 4.0. Content based on Web Version: Apr 23, 2026. Read the textbook online https://openstax.org/details/books/psychology-2e Music first girl talking to me. by ikkun (ex. Barradeen) | https://soundcloud.com/ikkunwastaken Royalty Free Music by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US