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AuDHD, when you have both, page 21 of 84
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21. AuDHD, when you have both

Many adults with ADHD are also autistic. Estimates vary between studies, but the overlap is common enough that people call it AuDHD. It is not a separate diagnosis. It means having both, which can be tiring, for example needing routine while also craving new things.

What is the difference between ADHD and autism?

ADHD is, roughly, a difference in the brain's attention regulation and dopamine systems. Autism is, roughly, a difference in sensory processing, social processing, and cognitive flexibility. They are not the same thing and they are not on a spectrum together. They are two different neurotypes that happen to co-occur far more often than chance, which is why so many late-diagnosed ADHDers eventually wonder if they are autistic too, and why so many late-diagnosed autistic adults eventually wonder if they have ADHD as well.

What are the signs of ADHD and autism together?

1/6 You need routine and you can't keep one.

Autism likes things to be predictable, and ADHD makes that hard. Many AuDHD adults build detailed routines, drop them after two weeks, panic, and then build new ones. The two conditions pull in different directions.

2/6 You hyperfixate on special interests.

ADHD hyperfocus and autistic special interests can look the same, but they feel different. Hyperfocus is intense, short-lived and tiring. Special interests are calmer and last for years. With AuDHD you often have both.

3/6 You seek out and avoid sensory input.

You need stimulation, so you fidget, snack or put music on. You also struggle with noisy restaurants, bright lights or scratchy clothes. Both can happen in the same hour.

4/6 You mask in two different directions.

Autistic masking means acting neurotypical, with eye contact and small talk. ADHD masking means acting organised, on time and attentive. Doing both all day is draining, and many AuDHD adults describe burning out because of it.

5/6 Demand avoidance hits harder.

Demand avoidance is linked with autism, and ADHD can make it stronger. Many AuDHD adults find that the more important a task is, the harder it becomes to start, even when they want to do it.

6/6 Your social energy runs out quickly.

Adults with ADHD often enjoy socialising and crash later. Autistic adults often find it hard work from the start. AuDHD adults may want to go out, enjoy it, and then need two days to recover.

Can I be assessed for ADHD and autism at the same time?

The NHS routes for ADHD and autism are separate, with separate waiting lists and separate Right to Choose providers. You can be on both lists at the same time and most AuDHD adults are. If you go private, the same provider can sometimes assess both, but more often you will use one provider for ADHD and another for autism. Many people start with whichever is affecting them most right now, since there is no medical reason to do them in a set order.

Where to go next

  • r/AuDHD on Reddit, a large and active community, and a good place to feel less alone in this combination.
  • The Embrace Autism online tests, particularly the RAADS-R and the CAT-Q, are widely used in UK private assessments and are a reasonable starting point if you are wondering whether autism is part of your picture.
  • The National Autistic Society in the UK runs a separate set of resources and a helpline, and they are increasingly aware of AuDHD as a real lived experience rather than two conditions in the same body.
  • Books, if you read, Unmasking Autism by Devon Price and Divergent Mind by Jenara Nerenberg are widely recommended in AuDHD spaces and both have UK editions.
Getting the second diagnosis can be its own grief, on top of the first. Many AuDHD adults say it took months to rethink how they saw themselves. Many say they feel more settled afterwards than they have in years.

This page provides general information and is not medical advice. Speak to a qualified clinician or prescriber about diagnosis, treatment or medication changes. Last checked September 2026.

Written by Rich, who has ADHD. This guide is information, not medical advice. How this guide is written · Need help now?