AuDHD: What Is It Like To Have Both ADHD and Autism?

Can someone have both autism and ADHD? Yes—and there’s a popular term to cover this situation.

AuDHD, a combination of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), affects more people than you might realize. While neither condition causes the other, they often coexist, creating new complications and opportunities for people with both disorders.

Today, let’s explore AuDHD: what it is, who’s most likely to have it, and how AuDHD treatment differs from traditional ADHD or autism treatments.

What is AuDHD?
How common is AuDHD?
What are the symptoms of autism and ADHD?
How is AuDHD different from autism or ADHD?
How is AuDHD diagnosed?
How is AuDHD treated?
How does AuDHD affect communication?
Is AuDHD a disability?
What financial, nonprofit, and government programs help people with AuDHD?
Where can I get more information about AuDHD?

What is AuDHD?

AuDHD, a combination of the terms “autism” and “ADHD,” is an informal diagnosis for someone who shows symptoms of both autism spectrum disorders (ASD or autism) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Autism and ADHD are often comorbid conditions, meaning they can exist at the same time. Historically, however, doctors believed the two conditions were mutually exclusive: you could be diagnosed with one, but not both.

After intensive study, researchers updated the 2013 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to acknowledge that people can have both autism and ADHD. The neurodiversity community coined the slang term “AuDHD” to describe this dual diagnosis and highlight its unique impact on life.

How common is AuDHD?

AuDHD is more common than you might think. Autism and ADHD share several symptoms, like difficulty paying attention, fidgeting, learning differences, and social challenges. This symptom overlap can make it tough to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

While neither condition causes the other, research suggests:

10% of the population has ADHD.
2% to 3% of the population has autism.
40% to 70% of people with autism also have ADHD.
20% to 50% of people with ADHD also have autism.

What are the Symptoms of Autism and ADHD?

Both autism and ADHD are neurodevelopmental disorders that affect how someone notices and interacts with the world around them. Autism tends to be known for its social symptoms, while ADHD is often associated with hyperactivity, but both conditions share symptoms.

Symptoms linked to both autism and ADHD include:

Inattention
Unusual movements like fidgeting or pacing
Self-soothing actions like hand flapping (“stimming”)
Differences in learning styles
Poor performance at work or in school
Sensory sensitivities (strong reactions to smell, taste, touch, etc.)
Social challenges
Fixation on activities or objects with unusual focus and intensity (“hyperfixation”)

In addition to the symptoms above, autism symptoms also include:

Picky eating
Difficulty understanding other people’s emotions
Difficulty making friends
Missing social cues like jokes, gestures, body language, or facial expressions
Avoiding eye contact
Repetitive tendencies and behaviors
Resistance to change
Odd or disruptive speech patterns like echolalia, articulation disorder, expressive language disorder, and muteness
Meltdowns, shutdowns, or temper tantrums triggered by overstimulation or disruption to routine

Meanwhile, ADHD-specific symptoms include:

Hyperactivity
Forgetting or losing things
Excessive and/or rapid speech
Interrupting others
Unnecessary risks and impulsive decisions (like substance abuse or suddenly quitting a job)
Difficulty starting and finishing tasks
Difficulty with organization, time management, and task management
Restlessness
Poor attention to detail
In addition, both ADHD and autism can cause or lead to mental health complications like:
Depression
Anxiety (especially social or performance anxiety)
Mood swings
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

How is AuDHD different from Autism or ADHD?

People with AuDHD experience not only autism and ADHD’s shared symptoms, but additional symptoms unique to each disorder.

For example, let’s say Grace experiences symptoms like inattention, fidgeting, and sensory sensitivities. All three of these symptoms could be due to ADHD or autism, so her doctor would have to study Grace’s other symptoms to diagnose one or both conditions.

Meanwhile, Michael experiences inattention, fidgeting, and sensory sensitivities, but he also has trouble making eye contact and is constantly out of his seat at work. He struggles to get tasks done, forgets to respond to emails, and gets upset if his schedule changes unexpectedly.

Where inattention, fidgeting, and sensory sensitivities could apply to both autism and ADHD, forgetfulness, hyperactivity, and difficulty with task management are hallmark symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. On the other hand, difficulty with eye contact and negative reactions to change are common autism symptoms in adults. So, Michael’s doctor might diagnose him with both ADHD and autism, otherwise known as AuDHD.

How is AuDHD Diagnosed?

Just like how there is no single blood test or lab exam to diagnose ADHD or autism, there is no specific test for AuDHD. Instead, AuDHD is a clinical diagnosis, which means doctors examine symptoms, family history, medical history, school/work performance, and input from friends and family members to make a diagnosis.

AuDHD testing might include:

Questionnaires answered personally or by a parent or guardian.
Child behavior checklists and teacher report forms.
Behavioral assessments using the Conners Rating Scale (for ADHD) or BRIEF, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (for autism).
Blood tests, brain scans, and other medical tests to rule out other conditions.
Tests of variable attention (TOVA), which examine someone’s ability to pay attention to boring or unpleasant tasks despite a lack of interest.
Intelligence testing (IQ testing).
Examination of life skills (like washing, dressing, or eating).
Discussion of medical, family, and personal history.

How is AuDHD Treated?

As you might have guessed, AuDHD treatment is similar to treatment for ADHD or treatment for autism. The difference is that AuDHD treatment identifies coping skills and therapies that improve executive functioning, self-esteem, and social interaction.

Living with AuDHD can be complicated and overwhelming, so many AuDHD treatment providers also place special emphasis on a person’s unique life experiences as a way of understanding the world around them.

Historically, autism and ADHD treatment aimed to help people “blend in” with society (acting or appearing neurotypical instead of supporting your needs, also called “masking”). As research, awareness, and empathy surrounding autism and ADHD grows, modern treatments—especially those used for AuDHD—increasingly build coping skills that make you feel confident, authentic, and comfortable in who you are.

AuDHD treatment might include:

Traditional talk therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Speech therapy.
Occupational or physical therapy.
Medications like stimulants or anti-anxiety meds.
Educational therapy, in-school interventions, or 504 plans and individualized education plans (IEPs) to help people succeed at school.
Career coaching, vocational skills training, communication training, and coping skills to help people succeed at work.

How does AuDHD Affect Communication?

Earlier in this article, we identified ADHD and autism symptoms that can affect communication, like irregular speech patterns, difficulty understanding social cues, and avoiding eye contact.

In addition to these, people with AuDHD may also have communication challenges like:

Difficulty understanding or relating to their diagnosis (which includes explaining it to others).
Extra difficulty making themselves understood.
A desire for social time that conflicts with social anxiety or other autism symptoms.
Speech difficulties like talking too much or too quickly, not talking at all, or experiencing speech disruptions echolalia, stuttering, etc.
Misunderstanding jokes, sarcasm, or layered conversation.
Social stigma, bullying, or harassment.
Embarrassment or low self-confidence.
Varying attention spans.

Like other neurological, developmental, or speech disorders, AuDHD requires patience and creativity when it comes to communication. Identifying comfortable and effective communication methods helps people with AuDHD—and their families, teachers, friends, and coworkers—feel understood.

Is AuDHD a Disability?

That answer depends on the severity of your symptoms. You might not even notice mild AuDHD symptoms, while severe symptoms can be so debilitating it becomes impossible to work or go to school.

In cases where AuDHD becomes a disability, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA offers certain protections like equal employment and housing opportunities, anti-discrimination policies, and access to public spaces.

To learn more about the ADA, its history, and what it offers for people with AuDHD, see ADA Overview: What Is the Americans With Disabilities Act?

What Financial, Nonprofit, and Government Programs Help People with AuDHD?

If you live in the United States, federal and state governments offer programs that can offset the cost of medications, therapy, or other treatments for AuDHD. Contact a local representative to find out if you qualify for one of these government-sponsored options:

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers private insurance plans to people who may not have coverage due to low income or other situations.
Medicare covers people with permanent disabilities and those 65 years old or older. Medicare part B may help with the cost of outpatient services like autism testing, therapy, and medication management. Contact your local Medicare representative to find out if you qualify.
Medicaid covers people with disabilities who have lower incomes.
Medigap insurance supplements someone’s Medicare coverage. Depending on your Medicare coverage, Medicap can help cover additional costs associated with autism care.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal benefit program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA). It provides monthly payments to blind or disabled people at least 65 years old, and is reserved for people with severe, chronic conditions and significant financial need. Having autism is not an automatic qualification for SSI, but a documented diagnosis can be helpful if the condition and the impairments are severe enough. For more information, see the SSA website.
Veteran’s Affairs (VA) provides health care benefits for veterans who have actively served in the military. While the VA doesn’t have a specific disability rating for autism, veterans with ASD may qualify for coverage of co-existing conditions like depression, anxiety, or mood disorders, particularly if those conditions appear alongside or because of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Where can I get more information about AuDHD?

To learn more about autism spectrum disorders (ASD), see:

To learn more about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), see:

To learn more about conditions that often co-occur with or are related to AuDHD, see:

Additional Information