February 12, 2025
AuDHD I What it means to be both Autistic and ADHD
Autistic and ADHD? That’s AuDHD. This guide breaks down what it means, how Autism and ADHD interact, and how Autistic ADHDers navigate the world.
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Autistic and ADHD? That’s AuDHD. This guide breaks down what it means, how Autism and ADHD interact, and how Autistic ADHDers navigate the world.
I spent years feeling like my brain was working against me - needing structure but resisting it, craving deep focus but struggling with executive function, feeling everything too much while also seeking more stimulation. When I finally learned about AuDHD, everything clicked. If you’ve ever felt like your brain is trying to play by two different sets of rules at the same time, you’re not alone.
AuDHD is the intersection of Autism and ADHD, two neurotypes that frequently co-occur. While they’re often seen as opposites - one craving routine, the other drawn to novelty - the reality is far more complex. AuDHD is not Autism plus ADHD; it’s its own experience, where the two neurotypes interact, overlap, and sometimes completely contradict each other.
Despite this, many professionals still treat ADHD and Autism as separate conditions, and until 2013, it wasn’t even possible to be officially diagnosed with both. Studies suggest that between 20-50% of Autistic people also meet the criteria for ADHD, while 30-80% of ADHDers display Autistic traits - but because diagnostic models were built on outdated, rigid definitions, many people remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
ADHD and Autism are often seen as opposites - one associated with hyperactivity, the other with rigidity. But in reality, they overlap in complex ways, and every person experiences them differently. No two Autistic or ADHD people are alike, and while there are common patterns, each brain navigates these traits in its own way.
ADHD brains are driven by interest-based motivation rather than routine. They thrive on novelty, quick thinking, and movement but struggle with time agnosia, impulsivity, and forgetfulness. ADHDers can be highly social but may struggle with boundaries and impulse control.
Autistic brains are driven by predictability and sensory processing, meaning they often prefer structure, deep focus, and consistency. Sensory input - things like sounds, lights, and textures - can be experienced more intensely (hypersensitivity) or less intensely (hyposensitivity), affecting comfort and focus.
This internal contradiction is what makes AuDHD such a unique experience - and also why it can be hard to diagnose.
For many, getting an AuDHD diagnosis is complicated and inaccessible. The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) categorizes Autism and ADHD separately, failing to fully account for how they overlap. This outdated framework leaves many people undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, making it harder to access support.
ADHDers are seen as impulsive, while Autistic people are viewed as rigid. An Autistic ADHDer might experience both impulsivity and a need for structure, making diagnosis more complicated.
Many neurodivergent people, especially those socialized as women, develop coping strategies that make their traits less obvious to clinicians. Read more about masking in Autistic women and girls here.
Many professionals are still trained to see Autism as “low empathy” and ADHD as “hyperactive,” despite research showing a much broader range of experiences.
Many Autistic ADHDers are diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or personality disorders first, because clinicians aren’t trained to recognize AuDHD in adults.
The term neurodiversity, widely amplified by Kassiane A. Asasumasu, a multiply neurodivergent activist of Romani heritage, reframes Autism, ADHD, and other neurotypes as natural variations in human cognition rather than disorders to be fixed or cured. The neurodiversity paradigm recognizes that brains work in different ways, and those differences are not inherently negative.
Yet, many AuDHD’ers grow up being told they’re too much, too sensitive, too disorganized, or too rigid, leading them to internalize the belief that something is wrong with them. However, the social model of disability highlights that many of the struggles Autistic ADHDers face are not due to an inherent flaw but rather a world that isn’t designed with neurodivergent needs in mind.
When workplaces, schools, and communities prioritize flexibility, accessibility, and support, AuDHD traits can become strengths rather than barriers, allowing individuals to thrive in environments that embrace neurodivergence rather than suppress it.
Diagnosis or not, you deserve support. Long waitlists and uninformed professionals can make it hard to get one, but you don’t need a diagnosis to seek accommodations, build supportive spaces, or find community. Here’s how to make life work for your brain.
Seeking support from neurodivergent-affirming professionals - therapists, coaches, and mentors - can help with reframing challenges, unlearning internalized ableism, and building sustainable strategies. Look for professionals who understand both Autism and ADHD and work from a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming perspective.
Traditional spaces aren’t designed with AuDHD brains in mind. Adjusting your work, home, and social environments to meet sensory, executive function, and emotional needs can make daily life smoother. This might mean:
Self-advocacy isn’t always easy, but it’s powerful. Learning to articulate your needs - whether through scripts, written requests, or direct communication - can help navigate work, relationships, and healthcare. It’s okay to ask for:
Being understood matters. Whether online or in person, neurodivergent-affirming spaces help combat isolation and provide community support from people who truly get it. Look for groups, meetups, or spaces that center neurodivergent experiences without forcing conformity to neurotypical norms. Reddit is a great place to start!
Being AuDHD can mean navigating a world that often wasn’t built with you in mind, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Whether you’re just beginning to explore what this means for you or you’ve known for years, you deserve support, understanding, and spaces where you can exist without having to justify or change who you are.
Give yourself grace. Seek out people who respect and value you. And remember, your brain isn’t the problem. The systems around you just weren’t designed for the way you think and process, but that doesn’t mean you can’t build a life that fits.
Want to explore more? Check out our resource hub for additional guides on ADHD, Autism, and neurodivergent-friendly strategies for work, life, and beyond.
Autistic and ADHD? That’s AuDHD. This guide breaks down what it means, how Autism and ADHD interact, and how Autistic ADHDers navigate the world.
I spent years feeling like my brain was working against me - needing structure but resisting it, craving deep focus but struggling with executive function, feeling everything too much while also seeking more stimulation. When I finally learned about AuDHD, everything clicked. If you’ve ever felt like your brain is trying to play by two different sets of rules at the same time, you’re not alone.
AuDHD is the intersection of Autism and ADHD, two neurotypes that frequently co-occur. While they’re often seen as opposites - one craving routine, the other drawn to novelty - the reality is far more complex. AuDHD is not Autism plus ADHD; it’s its own experience, where the two neurotypes interact, overlap, and sometimes completely contradict each other.
Despite this, many professionals still treat ADHD and Autism as separate conditions, and until 2013, it wasn’t even possible to be officially diagnosed with both. Studies suggest that between 20-50% of Autistic people also meet the criteria for ADHD, while 30-80% of ADHDers display Autistic traits - but because diagnostic models were built on outdated, rigid definitions, many people remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
ADHD and Autism are often seen as opposites - one associated with hyperactivity, the other with rigidity. But in reality, they overlap in complex ways, and every person experiences them differently. No two Autistic or ADHD people are alike, and while there are common patterns, each brain navigates these traits in its own way.
ADHD brains are driven by interest-based motivation rather than routine. They thrive on novelty, quick thinking, and movement but struggle with time agnosia, impulsivity, and forgetfulness. ADHDers can be highly social but may struggle with boundaries and impulse control.
Autistic brains are driven by predictability and sensory processing, meaning they often prefer structure, deep focus, and consistency. Sensory input - things like sounds, lights, and textures - can be experienced more intensely (hypersensitivity) or less intensely (hyposensitivity), affecting comfort and focus.
This internal contradiction is what makes AuDHD such a unique experience - and also why it can be hard to diagnose.
For many, getting an AuDHD diagnosis is complicated and inaccessible. The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) categorizes Autism and ADHD separately, failing to fully account for how they overlap. This outdated framework leaves many people undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, making it harder to access support.
ADHDers are seen as impulsive, while Autistic people are viewed as rigid. An Autistic ADHDer might experience both impulsivity and a need for structure, making diagnosis more complicated.
Many neurodivergent people, especially those socialized as women, develop coping strategies that make their traits less obvious to clinicians. Read more about masking in Autistic women and girls here.
Many professionals are still trained to see Autism as “low empathy” and ADHD as “hyperactive,” despite research showing a much broader range of experiences.
Many Autistic ADHDers are diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or personality disorders first, because clinicians aren’t trained to recognize AuDHD in adults.
The term neurodiversity, widely amplified by Kassiane A. Asasumasu, a multiply neurodivergent activist of Romani heritage, reframes Autism, ADHD, and other neurotypes as natural variations in human cognition rather than disorders to be fixed or cured. The neurodiversity paradigm recognizes that brains work in different ways, and those differences are not inherently negative.
Yet, many AuDHD’ers grow up being told they’re too much, too sensitive, too disorganized, or too rigid, leading them to internalize the belief that something is wrong with them. However, the social model of disability highlights that many of the struggles Autistic ADHDers face are not due to an inherent flaw but rather a world that isn’t designed with neurodivergent needs in mind.
When workplaces, schools, and communities prioritize flexibility, accessibility, and support, AuDHD traits can become strengths rather than barriers, allowing individuals to thrive in environments that embrace neurodivergence rather than suppress it.
Diagnosis or not, you deserve support. Long waitlists and uninformed professionals can make it hard to get one, but you don’t need a diagnosis to seek accommodations, build supportive spaces, or find community. Here’s how to make life work for your brain.
Seeking support from neurodivergent-affirming professionals - therapists, coaches, and mentors - can help with reframing challenges, unlearning internalized ableism, and building sustainable strategies. Look for professionals who understand both Autism and ADHD and work from a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming perspective.
Traditional spaces aren’t designed with AuDHD brains in mind. Adjusting your work, home, and social environments to meet sensory, executive function, and emotional needs can make daily life smoother. This might mean:
Self-advocacy isn’t always easy, but it’s powerful. Learning to articulate your needs - whether through scripts, written requests, or direct communication - can help navigate work, relationships, and healthcare. It’s okay to ask for:
Being understood matters. Whether online or in person, neurodivergent-affirming spaces help combat isolation and provide community support from people who truly get it. Look for groups, meetups, or spaces that center neurodivergent experiences without forcing conformity to neurotypical norms. Reddit is a great place to start!
Being AuDHD can mean navigating a world that often wasn’t built with you in mind, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Whether you’re just beginning to explore what this means for you or you’ve known for years, you deserve support, understanding, and spaces where you can exist without having to justify or change who you are.
Give yourself grace. Seek out people who respect and value you. And remember, your brain isn’t the problem. The systems around you just weren’t designed for the way you think and process, but that doesn’t mean you can’t build a life that fits.
Want to explore more? Check out our resource hub for additional guides on ADHD, Autism, and neurodivergent-friendly strategies for work, life, and beyond.
Autistic and ADHD? That’s AuDHD. This guide breaks down what it means, how Autism and ADHD interact, and how Autistic ADHDers navigate the world.
I spent years feeling like my brain was working against me - needing structure but resisting it, craving deep focus but struggling with executive function, feeling everything too much while also seeking more stimulation. When I finally learned about AuDHD, everything clicked. If you’ve ever felt like your brain is trying to play by two different sets of rules at the same time, you’re not alone.
AuDHD is the intersection of Autism and ADHD, two neurotypes that frequently co-occur. While they’re often seen as opposites - one craving routine, the other drawn to novelty - the reality is far more complex. AuDHD is not Autism plus ADHD; it’s its own experience, where the two neurotypes interact, overlap, and sometimes completely contradict each other.
Despite this, many professionals still treat ADHD and Autism as separate conditions, and until 2013, it wasn’t even possible to be officially diagnosed with both. Studies suggest that between 20-50% of Autistic people also meet the criteria for ADHD, while 30-80% of ADHDers display Autistic traits - but because diagnostic models were built on outdated, rigid definitions, many people remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
ADHD and Autism are often seen as opposites - one associated with hyperactivity, the other with rigidity. But in reality, they overlap in complex ways, and every person experiences them differently. No two Autistic or ADHD people are alike, and while there are common patterns, each brain navigates these traits in its own way.
ADHD brains are driven by interest-based motivation rather than routine. They thrive on novelty, quick thinking, and movement but struggle with time agnosia, impulsivity, and forgetfulness. ADHDers can be highly social but may struggle with boundaries and impulse control.
Autistic brains are driven by predictability and sensory processing, meaning they often prefer structure, deep focus, and consistency. Sensory input - things like sounds, lights, and textures - can be experienced more intensely (hypersensitivity) or less intensely (hyposensitivity), affecting comfort and focus.
This internal contradiction is what makes AuDHD such a unique experience - and also why it can be hard to diagnose.
For many, getting an AuDHD diagnosis is complicated and inaccessible. The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) categorizes Autism and ADHD separately, failing to fully account for how they overlap. This outdated framework leaves many people undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, making it harder to access support.
ADHDers are seen as impulsive, while Autistic people are viewed as rigid. An Autistic ADHDer might experience both impulsivity and a need for structure, making diagnosis more complicated.
Many neurodivergent people, especially those socialized as women, develop coping strategies that make their traits less obvious to clinicians. Read more about masking in Autistic women and girls here.
Many professionals are still trained to see Autism as “low empathy” and ADHD as “hyperactive,” despite research showing a much broader range of experiences.
Many Autistic ADHDers are diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or personality disorders first, because clinicians aren’t trained to recognize AuDHD in adults.
The term neurodiversity, widely amplified by Kassiane A. Asasumasu, a multiply neurodivergent activist of Romani heritage, reframes Autism, ADHD, and other neurotypes as natural variations in human cognition rather than disorders to be fixed or cured. The neurodiversity paradigm recognizes that brains work in different ways, and those differences are not inherently negative.
Yet, many AuDHD’ers grow up being told they’re too much, too sensitive, too disorganized, or too rigid, leading them to internalize the belief that something is wrong with them. However, the social model of disability highlights that many of the struggles Autistic ADHDers face are not due to an inherent flaw but rather a world that isn’t designed with neurodivergent needs in mind.
When workplaces, schools, and communities prioritize flexibility, accessibility, and support, AuDHD traits can become strengths rather than barriers, allowing individuals to thrive in environments that embrace neurodivergence rather than suppress it.
Diagnosis or not, you deserve support. Long waitlists and uninformed professionals can make it hard to get one, but you don’t need a diagnosis to seek accommodations, build supportive spaces, or find community. Here’s how to make life work for your brain.
Seeking support from neurodivergent-affirming professionals - therapists, coaches, and mentors - can help with reframing challenges, unlearning internalized ableism, and building sustainable strategies. Look for professionals who understand both Autism and ADHD and work from a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming perspective.
Traditional spaces aren’t designed with AuDHD brains in mind. Adjusting your work, home, and social environments to meet sensory, executive function, and emotional needs can make daily life smoother. This might mean:
Self-advocacy isn’t always easy, but it’s powerful. Learning to articulate your needs - whether through scripts, written requests, or direct communication - can help navigate work, relationships, and healthcare. It’s okay to ask for:
Being understood matters. Whether online or in person, neurodivergent-affirming spaces help combat isolation and provide community support from people who truly get it. Look for groups, meetups, or spaces that center neurodivergent experiences without forcing conformity to neurotypical norms. Reddit is a great place to start!
Being AuDHD can mean navigating a world that often wasn’t built with you in mind, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Whether you’re just beginning to explore what this means for you or you’ve known for years, you deserve support, understanding, and spaces where you can exist without having to justify or change who you are.
Give yourself grace. Seek out people who respect and value you. And remember, your brain isn’t the problem. The systems around you just weren’t designed for the way you think and process, but that doesn’t mean you can’t build a life that fits.
Want to explore more? Check out our resource hub for additional guides on ADHD, Autism, and neurodivergent-friendly strategies for work, life, and beyond.
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