ADHD and autism (Audhd)

Ha yeah he wouldn't function without me! But my brain is an exhausting mess. I might speak to my GP as you suggested. I hope you manage the form soon!

It sounds like we are in quite similar positions. I am diagnosed autistic and have begun process of getting an ADHD assessment but, of course, I am really struggling to get the form done! Finishing it has been on my to do list for months now. I only want to do it so I can give medication a go. I also tend to notice where things are and remember and my wife is also always losing stuff!

There is a lot of overlap between Autism and ADHD. Certain symptoms, such as intense focus, can be shared between the two conditions. That’s why it’s a little hard to tell if you have just Autism, ADHD, or both.

As McFrost alluded to, you can medicate for ADHD. That might be one good reason to go ahead and pursue a diagnosis. I’d recommend talking with your GP and see if they suggest it or not.

That's very helpful, thank you for the example. I certainly don't fit the ADHD criteria when it comes to losing things, whereas my husband constantly forgets where he puts everything. I walk past it once and remember exactly where it is. But similarly to your example, I make precise lists to alleviate my mental load and stop my brain from spinning, I decide the order I should do things in, but then I look at the first thing on the list and can't do it.

It took years to get an autism diagnosis though so I'm reluctant to start the process again for ADHD, but I do wonder if the things that I struggle with the most now are actually ADHD, since I've put a lot in place since understanding the ASD part of my brain, so I'm managing a lot better with the ASD difficulties.

The distraction and procrastination certainly sounds more likely caused by ADHD but with both things in the mix it can be difficult to pick apart what is doing what. The only way you could definitively figure that out is by medicating the ADHD I guess. For me, I have found it helpful to think of AuDHD as it's own thing, rather than two separate conditions. There is a push and pull in the brain of an AuDHD person that is unlikely to exist with pure ADHD or pure autism. For instance, I have this deep desire to be organised and methodical and have routine but an inability to do those consistently due to lack of focus, need for novelty, easily bored etc.

How could I figure out whether a trait is due to autism or ADHD? I was diagnosed autistic a few years back, but I struggle more and more with focus and getting constantly distracted, jumping from one task to another without finishing either, and struggling to start things. On paper, I would say this all sounds like ADHD, however I think this could just be part of the autism. How can you tell?

Hello Danfee

I was diagnosed ASD in my 60s, just over a year ago. I have been referred for an ADHD assessment.

I’ve read up on this and I’m fairly certain that I’m AuDHD. Some autism traits and ADHD traits can seem similar at first sight, so it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate between the two conditions with regard to specific difficulties.

I am one of the autistic people without ADHD. I don't have any ADHD traits which aren't better explained by autism.

However, my close autistic friend has both, and my younger brother who is also autistic has more adhd traits than I do, but currently there would be no benefit to get further assessed for him.

I think I am still coming to terms with the autism diagnosis, and while it does explain some of my difficulties I really do think there is something more. Like you say I try to write things down and don't trust memory, as my memory is not the greatest lol all of this is a minefield honestly, 5 years ago, I never would have even consider this was a possibility, let alone being diagnosed with autism. 

I wish you all the best in understanding yourself, and figuring out what works for you! :) 

thank you so much, that is really helpful!

Thank you for your comment, I am sorry you had to go through all of that before you were finally heard, but I am glad that finally you were and had that confirmation that there was something! 

I am also replying to the second comment at the same time, I was told that I can't have ADHD as I am on time for appointments and rarely forget them, but then told this is because of my autism, but then thought well maybe that autism trait was just stronger, but nope! 

also I am the same as you socially, I can be extremely awkward or say the wrong thing, but I have always been described as sociable and no one displayed any difficulties, but I think after 34 years I have just managed to mask really well, however if I can hide away and not see anyone, that is what I will do lol 

I can really relate to your comment and experiences and how it displayed itself so much

oh wow I didn't know that, I thought the percentage was the same either side, so that is really interesting to know. I never really thought I had autism, I always thought I was more towards the side of ADHD, but when I was told actually you really need an assessment and was diagnosed I was really surprised. But like you I do feel like there is more, I am hoping I will be listened to and get that reassessment! but time will tell 

It took me a while to get used to the ASD diagnosis and have more recently been diagnosed with ADHD.

There are strange connections between them perhaps...

I figured that stress from autism was causing my problems of ADHD symptoms and rather stupidly thought understanding autism would help me understanding the ADHD.

Part of me struggled enough coming to terms with the explanation of ASD let alone wanting a nother "problem".

I now see that understanding and making strategies that manage both better is sensible.  Accepting the diagnosis and simple things like keeping a diary rather than trusting to memory, luck and other people reminding me for example!

Best wishes

I was recently diagnosed with Autism and they said some possible traits of ADHD were also noted in the developmental history & may benefit from further assessment. 

Around 50-70% Autistics likely to have ADHD , but only 20% of ADHDers will have Autism. 

So ADHD numbers > Autism Numbers

Some AuDHD get diagnosed with ADHD first and many now try to get tested for both close together which I think is being recommended by some providers.  The funding thing via NHS can be a real issue for many - but I went private for both mine so can't advise

I thought I was more Autistic - I was diagnosed Jan 2025 and it wasn't until end of Nov 2025 when I realised there was more going on that Autism , so had my ADHD assessment and diagnosis last month.

Good luck - with your reassessment

Also! I want to note that symptoms of adhd and autism can sometimes disguise each other, especially within the current diagnostic system, but also in life. For me, in social situations, my adhd impulsiveness can often override my autistic anxiety. Additionally, because of masking and relatively high intelligence, I learned to hide some of my social difficulties, appearing way more sociable than i actually am. When one lives a long time without proper treatments or accommodations, we often evolve compensatory behaviours, like extreme systems of organisation to deal with memory issues and scattered attention.

It is so important to find a neurodivergent and trauma informed physician, in order to receive an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment!!

Hi!

For years I was dismissed by therapists and others when trying to express symptoms I regarded as adhd and/or autism, they would always attribute these to my PTSD.. I quickly learned that professionals who had most experience with trauma, depression or anxiety would almost always go down this route, so therefore it became my mission to steer clear of psychologists with that kind of background.

However, this installed doubts in me that maybe they were right, and only after three rounds of different trauma therapies did I feel confident enough to truly advocate for myself.

I needed to find the language to be able to express my life-long symptoms of adhd and autism and to clearly separate these from the ptsd. In hindsight I always recognised the difference within myself, and wish I had had the tools to advocate for myself earlier. I ended up with substance abuse issues as a form of self medicating, and only then did I feel like my problems were taken seriously.

I received my diagnosis of both autism and ADHD last fall. For me, the combination of living with both autism and adhd is at the core of my experience. It feels like a constant push and pull internally, where my autistic needs for predictability, routine and order strongly contradict with my adhd needs for novelty, thrill seeking and impulsiveness. I have often said that it feels like having two different personalities!

After my assessment I have also learned more about how adhd and autism shows up together, for example how it intensifies my perfectionism and RSD. When i discovered content on audhd (term often used for combined adhd and autism) it was as if everything fell into place, I have never felt so validated in my experience as I have by the audhd community.

Hello Danfee,

Thanks for posting on this forum. While you wait for more input from other members regarding your question, it might be worth reading Ella Tabb's story at the following link:

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/autism-adhd

Ella shares their story of being diagnosed with both autism and ADHD as an adult, how they feel the two conditions interact, and their journey of self-understanding.

All the best,

Karin Mod

See I was told I have traits, and scored high on the questionnaires, but as soon as I said I had any trauma - the doctor tuned out! 

I have an ASD diagnosis but I don't have ADHD.

I don't score very highly in ADHD questionaires and the psychologist didn't think so either. I might have the odd trait.