What Is AuDHD and How Is It Diagnosed?
By Catherine Mutti-Driscoll, MA, PhD, CALC
Director of Executive Function Coaching, Hallowell Todaro
Have you seen the term AuDHD and wondered what it means?
AuDHD refers to individuals who have both Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
ADHD and ASD often co-occur, even though it was believed until 2013 that the presence of one ruled out the other. Today, clinicians recognize that it is common for these diagnoses to overlap. For example, the scientific literature estimates that 50-70% of people with Autism also have ADHD (Hours et al., 2022). A recent 2024 study found that 9.8% of people with ADHD have co-occurring Autism (Canals et al., 2024).
Some individuals are diagnosed with both ADHD and ASD simultaneously, while others receive their diagnoses at different times. This variability can result from differences in providers' expertise and also how familiar the individual seeking a diagnosis is with the conditions.
For example, I first learned about my ADHD in 2018 after my son's 2017 diagnosis led me to recognize similar traits in myself. I was not initially flagged with co-occurring ASD, but was later diagnosed with Autism in 2021 after a medical provider I consulted with encouraged me to seek further psychological evaluation. I now proudly identify as someone with AuDHD, like a growing number of individuals.
ADHD Signs & Diagnosis
ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodivergent condition that affects about 1 in 10 people. Diagnostic symptoms include:
Inattention: Difficulty regulating attention when bored, tired, or disinterested.
Hyperactivity: Physical, mental, or verbal restlessness/energy.
Impulsivity: Difficulty regulating behavior.
The above symptoms can manifest differently from person to person. For instance, hyperactivity might appear as physical energy, excessive talking, or a fast-paced stream of thoughts depending on the person.
Lesser-known symptoms of ADHD include an interest-driven nervous system (focusing well only when interested), emotional hyperarousal (experiencing higher highs and lower lows emotionally), and rejection-sensitive dysphoria (deep sensitivity to rejection or feelings of failure) (Dodson, 2024).
ADHD can be diagnosed by various health and mental health professionals, including doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists.
Autism Signs & Diagnosis
Autism is diagnosed in about 2% of the population and involves social communication challenges, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors.
Characteristic social challenges can include misunderstanding social rules or excelling in one-on-one, predictable interactions but struggling more in unstructured or socially complex settings.
Restricted interests often involve an intense focus and passionate interests in specific topics, making social interactions easier when discussing those interests but harder when the focus shifts.
Repetitive behaviors in those with ASD can include repeated step-by-step routines or it can also manifest as consistently approaching all problems the same way. For example, I learned during my diagnostic assessment that my tendency to respond to challenges by "working harder" was a repetitively patterned behavior.
Autism can be diagnosed by doctors, nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists. Because not as many types of health providers diagnose Autism, some people with Autism choose to self-diagnose.
Why Recognizing AuDHD Matters
Recognizing AuDHD matters because many people feel more understood when they can find a diagnosis that recognizes more of their symptoms. If relevant to the individual’s symptoms, having both diagnoses helps illuminate different parts of an individual’s experiences for themselves and others. For me, knowing I had AuDHD helped me understand sometimes paradoxical urges and behavior. For example, my AuDHD helps me understand my desire for structure and routine while frequently seeking novel experiences. While my ASD and ADHD symptoms do still conflict at times, it is helpful to know why they conflict and also to know that I am not alone.
References
Canals, J., Morales-Hidalgo, P., Voltas, N., & Hernández-Martínez, C. (2024). Prevalence of comorbidity of autism and ADHD and associated characteristics in school population: EPINED study. Autism Research, 17(6), 1276–1286. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3146
Dodson, W. (2024, November 1). 3 defining features of ADHD that everyone overlooks. Additude Magazine. https://www.additudemag.com/symptoms-of-add-hyperarousal-rejection-sensitivity/
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