Is it possible to go in for an autism assessment and come out with an ADHD diagnosis

My KId got an ADHD diagnosis 17 years before I Got my Autism Diagnosis.

At the time her Dr said "it's hereditary and she didn't get it from her mum." 

I went to Garret LoPorto's website and "found my tribe" as he puts it.

Was actually moved to tears by some of his stuff. BUT it didn't explain all my issues..

17 years later someone says "you ought to take the Aspergers test".

WAAY too late to be of any use really, **** my luck!

BUT I DO get to live a very "hobbitty" or "Wombling" type of life.

NO money, (hence no worrying about where I'm going to get some, 'cos I aint!)  only the responsibilities I assume, little interaction with wider society, just a few everyday much loved folks and animals to deal with, and endless pottering about collecting things, repairing and reusing, and occasionally inventing stuff.

The only snag is that the mindset this life tends to impart does cut me further off from the rest of humanity, which is much more interactive and where people feel compelled in their actions where I still see choices. A lot of people sure don't like that attitude when I express it. 

Sorry, woffling on, what I meant to say was:

Having ADD might explain why I seem more able to "socialise" than many others seem to manage. I was really wondering about that..

JuniperFromGallifrey said:

From what I've learned, ADHD'rs tend to be able to "speak both Autistic and NeuroTypical", so my ADHD friends, who might feel like they can understand NTs but still don't fit in due to differences, don't have to Camouflage around me :) We easily accept each other's intensities. And my ADHD friends can help me better interpret NT socio-linguistics.

You know I always wondered about this.  I had NT friends at school and ND friends, but existed in both groups without issue.  I am (late) diagnosed with ASD, but am pretty sure I fall into the ADHD group as well, if not more than the ASD group.  Also lack of concentration and focus is the real killer in my life.

And yes, I am awaiting assessment for ADHD.

Thanks! I've put a lot of intensive work, reading and researching into understanding this and also have full time self employment. I'd like to get to a place where I can make a quick and more concise guide for parents. The questions here are really useful to understand where non-autistics might be stuck. :) 

Me too

When you post, it's always a good read. 

Real "light in the darkness" stuff, like I try to do, you nail it every time!

Sounds like flattery as I read it, but I can't find a more deadpan way of saying it. 

Here's what I've found from a great deal of personal research over the last several years (including philosophical and psychoanalytical study that lead up to it)

ADHD and Autism share a few experiences / ways of perceiving and understanding life. 

1. Montropotic Thinking (a sense of Everything-all-at-once, the ability to hyper-focus and other things which involve a sort of 'higher thinking' and Gamma flow-state. See montropism.org 

2. Sense-Perception. A difference in filtering and signalling how the brain is 'wired'. These can be responsible for anxiety and can affect amygdala function (trauma). Many recent studies have shown lower levels of GABA in Autistic and ADHD individuals, which are not only responsible for inhibiting and regulating in brain function but also for gut-health. This doesn't mean one can automatically change allergies, as we're still more immediately sensitive to many unnatural chemicals, and potentially unnatural modifications in the food-source, where someone who can desensitise might suffer the consequences much later in life and all at once. BUT, I have found anti-depressants will further Lower GABA. But also -coupled with dietary things which might aid the body's ability to produce it - occasional anti-anxiety medication (as an adult) will really help. Occasional like once a month or every other month or when it's 4am and I'm not sleeping because a melodic loop is stuck in my head :) 

3. Executive Function and a different experience of Time. We can get stuck in a sense of eternal (Aion) or being easily lost in the moment (Kairos), rather than the Left Hemisphere command of chronology (Chronos).

Differences:

From what I've learned, ADHD'rs tend to be able to "speak both Autistic and NeuroTypical", so my ADHD friends, who might feel like they can understand NTs but still don't fit in due to differences, don't have to Camouflage around me :) We easily accept each other's intensities. And my ADHD friends can help me better interpret NT socio-linguistics. x

I’ve just been diagnosed with autism, and the assessor mentioned the strong co-morbidity factor and that I should possible consider an ADHD assessment in the future, but I wasn’t diagnosed with it. Unsure what the best next steps would be. 

Hi I was diagnosed with autism when I was 21 years old and I was also diagnosed with ADHD at the same time but I was unaware I had both. But that was over 10 years ago not sure if much has changed. Hope this helps.

According to my GP, they are separate issues and require separate referrals.

I had my assessment with PsychiatryUK and I was evaluated as "level 2 ASD, probably ADHD". Then I was referred for another ADHD testing. Probably would be the same for you, ASD and ADHD are frequent comorbidities 

I think you can? Im not sure, just bumping forward.