Let’s consider this scenario: Emma got her autism diagnosis at 28, which explained her social struggles and sensory issues. But something still didn’t fit. She was impulsive, struggled with attention, and felt restless even during her special interests.
Two years later, Emma discovered she also had ADHD. She had AuDHD – a term for people with both autism and ADHD. Research shows these conditions happen together much more than people used to think.
What is AuDHD?
AuDHD describes people who have both autism and ADHD. Whilst it’s not an official medical term, it captures the unique experience of having both conditions simultaneously.
How Common Is It?
Major research shows significant overlap between autism and ADHD:
- 28-40% of people with autism also meet ADHD criteria¹
- **Lifetime prevalence reaches 40.2%**¹
- **Boys show higher rates (0.89%) compared to girls (0.16%)**²
- Many people get one diagnosis first, then discover the other later
The 2024 EPINED study of 3,727 children found a 5.6-fold higher rate in males, but this likely reflects diagnostic bias rather than true differences².
Why Wasn’t This Known Before?
Until 2013, doctors couldn’t diagnose autism and ADHD together, they had to pick one. The DSM-5 changed this in May 2013, which explains why many adults are only now discovering they have both³.
This change was ‘universally endorsed by clinical communities’ and generated applause at autism conferences because it finally recognised what clinicians were seeing in practice.
The Internal Battle of AuDHD
Having both conditions creates internal conflicts:
Routine vs Change
- Autism wants predictability and routine
- ADHD needs variety and stimulation
- Which means: You need structure, but also get bored easily
Focus Patterns
- Autism creates intense focus on special interests
- ADHD makes it hard to focus on boring tasks
- Which means: You can hyperfocus on things you love but can’t concentrate on anything else
Social Challenges
- Autism affects the understanding of social communication
- ADHD impulsivity can make social situations harder
- Which means: Double difficulty with relationships and social situations
Spotting AuDHD Signs
Attention Patterns
- Hyperfocus on interests, but can’t focus on boring tasks
- Special interests might change more than typical autism
- Easily distracted from routine activities
- Struggle with attention when other people are around
Social Communication
- More socially motivated than typical autism
- ADHD impulsivity overrides autism social caution
- Interrupt people because of ADHD, while missing social cues from autism
- Social presentation doesn’t fit either condition alone
Sensory Differences
- Crave some sensory input whilst avoiding others
- Need movement (ADHD) and sensory regulation (autism)
- Want both stimulation and calm environments (which seems impossible!)
Organisation and Planning
- Need routines but struggle to stick to them
- Create brilliant organisational systems, but can’t maintain them
- Time management is made more complicated by both conditions
- Excellent at detailed thinking but poor at starting tasks
Why Single Assessments Miss AuDHD
Autism Assessment Might Miss:
- ADHD symptoms explained away as autistic behaviour
- Attention problems blamed on special interests
- Hyperactivity dismissed as stimming
- Impulsivity overlooked
ADHD Assessment Might Miss:
- Social difficulties blamed on ADHD rejection sensitivity
- Routine needs explained as ADHD structure requirements
- Sensory issues seen as ADHD hyperactivity
- Communication differences were not explored
Why Combined Assessment Matters
Clincians and medical professionals discuss comorbidity, which is the presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient at the same time.
Clinical research demonstrates that 50-70% of individuals with autism present with comorbid ADHD symptoms³. This makes a comprehensive assessment crucial for:
Complete Picture
- Clinicians trained in both conditions
- Assessment tools that capture both presentations
- Understanding how conditions interact
- Treatment recommendations for both neurotypes
Better Outcomes
- Medication decisions considering both conditions
- Therapy approaches addressing everything
- Proper workplace accommodations
- Access to relevant communities and support
Studies show that clinical samples have higher comorbidity rates (40.4-61.8%) compared to community samples (29.5%), suggesting that people with both conditions are more likely to need professional help¹.
Living with AuDHD
Daily Strategies
- Create structured routines with built-in variety
- Use special interests to help with boring tasks
- Build sensory toolkits for different situations
- Plan for both routine needs and variety requirements
Treatment Approaches
- ADHD medication might help with attention and organisation
- Therapy adapted for both conditions
- Sensory support
- Social skills training that understands both presentations
What to Expect
Treatment for AuDHD needs to address both conditions. Expert consensus guidelines recommend³:
- Careful medication monitoring (autism can affect how you respond)
- Therapy that understands both neurotypes
- Workplace accommodations for both sets of needs
- Self-advocacy that explains both conditions
Getting Properly Assessed
Signs You Might Have Both
- One diagnosis doesn’t fully explain your experiences
- Treatment for a single condition hasn’t been very effective
- You have internal conflicts (need routine but crave variety)
- Your attention patterns seem complex
- You struggle with both social communication and impulse control
What to Look For
- Clinicians experienced in both conditions
- Assessment that considers both possibilities
- Tools designed for dual diagnosis
- Treatment recommendations addressing both neurotypes
- Understanding of masking behaviours affecting both conditions
Think you might have both autism and ADHD?
Understanding your complete neurodivergent profile can transform your self-understanding and access to support.
- Speak to specialists in dual diagnosis.
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References:
- Rong et al. (2021). Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101759
- Canals et al. (2024). Autism Research. DOI: 10.1002/aur.3146
- BMC Medicine Expert Consensus (2020). DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01585-y