What Is AuDHD? What It Means to Have Both Autism and ADHD

AuDHD is a community term for being both autistic and ADHD. It isn’t a diagnosis in itself. The formal diagnoses are autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and since the DSM-5 was published in 2013, a clinician can give a person both. Before 2013, the manual didn’t allow it.

This guide is for adults wondering about themselves: how the two interact, how common the combination really is, why adults and women are so often missed, and what an evaluation involves.

What is AuDHD?

AuDHD blends “autism” and “ADHD” into one word. It came from autistic and ADHD communities, where people use it to describe their own experience. You won’t find it in the diagnostic manual. As Cleveland Clinic’s overview puts it, “AuDHD isn’t a diagnosis according to the DSM-5, the reference book used to define and diagnose mental health and brain-related conditions.”

What a person actually receives after an evaluation is two diagnoses: autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. Since 2013, autism has been one diagnosis rather than several. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s summary of the DSM-5 changes, autism spectrum disorder “now encompasses the previous DSM-IV autistic disorder (autism), Asperger’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.” If you were told years ago that you had Asperger’s, that falls under autism today.

So why use the word? Because it names something neither label captures alone: two sets of traits that interact and sometimes pull against each other. Researchers still treat them as two conditions. In a 2019 review in Current Psychiatry Reports, Antshel and Russo found “some overlap between the two disorders yet enough differences to indicate that these conditions are sufficiently distinct to warrant separate diagnostic categories.” That’s why a good evaluation looks at each one on its own terms.

Can you have ADHD and autism at the same time?

Yes. Officially, though, only since 2013. When the American Psychiatric Association published DSM-5, it listed the change plainly among its ADHD updates: “a comorbid diagnosis with autism spectrum disorder is now allowed.” Under the previous edition, clinicians following the manual didn’t give both diagnoses.

That rule still shapes adult lives today. If you were evaluated before 2013 and given one of the two diagnoses, the other was off the table by the rules of the time. The same revision changed ADHD in two ways that matter for adults. Symptoms now need to have been present before age 12 rather than age 7. And adults need five symptoms in a domain instead of the six required for younger people.

The two conditions also run in families together. In 2018, a Swedish register study of 1,899,654 people, published in Molecular Psychiatry by Ghirardi and colleagues, found that autistic people were far more likely than others to have ADHD. The pattern across relatives, the authors wrote, “supports the existence of genetic overlap between clinically ascertained ASD and ADHD.”

The question came up several times when Dr. Menon answered questions in a Reddit AMA on ADHD and autism in 2022. One reader asked, “is it possible for ASD & ADHD to coexist?” Her answer: “ASD and ADHD can definitely co-exist.” She added, “There are usually a lot of misdiagnoses along the way, unfortunately. I’ve met clients with a range of diagnoses such as Bipolar Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder etc. that are really ADHD and ASD.”

How common is it to be both autistic and ADHD?

The honest answer is that somewhere between roughly 1 in 4 and 2 in 5 autistic people also have ADHD, depending on who was studied. You’ll often read a much higher number: that 50 to 70 percent of autistic people have ADHD. It’s widely repeated. It doesn’t match the study it’s credited to.

We traced it. The figure appears in a 2022 paper in Frontiers in Psychiatry by Hours, Recasens and Baleyte, titled “ASD and ADHD Comorbidity: What Are We Talking About?” It says, “The prevalence of ADHD in people with ASD ranges from 50 to 70%, according to the literature.” It cites a single source for that. Then the very next sentence asks, “Where does this figure come from?”

That single source is a 2021 meta-analysis by Rong and colleagues in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, which pooled 63 studies. Its own summary gives “the pooled current and lifetime prevalence rates of ADHD among ASD” as 38.5 percent and 40.2 percent. That’s about 40 percent, not 50 to 70.

The largest review is lower still. In 2019, Lai and colleagues reviewed co-occurring conditions in autism across 96 studies in Lancet Psychiatry, and found a pooled prevalence of “28% (95% CI 25-32) for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder” among autistic people. They also noted why numbers vary so much: “Estimates in clinical sample-based studies were higher than in population-based and registry-based studies.” One likely reason: people counted in a clinic came in because something was hard, while a whole-population count includes many people who never sought help. Hours and colleagues make the same point about spread, noting that “reported rates of comorbidity range from 10 to 90%.”

The overlap runs the other way too. In 2020, Hollingdale and colleagues pooled 22 studies of children and teens with ADHD in Psychological Medicine. “The overall pooled effect for children and adolescents with ADHD who met threshold for ASD was 21%.” That review covered young people only.

What does this mean for you? Even the lower estimates make the combination common, not rare. If you’re autistic, ADHD is worth asking about, and the reverse is true too.

What AuDHD can feel like: when the two pull in opposite directions

Being autistic and ADHD isn’t simply having more of each set of traits. The two can work against each other. As our post on late diagnosis in women describes it, “The ‘ADHD part’ of your brain might crave novelty, excitement, and new projects. The ‘autistic part’ of your brain might crave routine, predictability, and deep focus. It’s a constant internal tug-of-war.”

A few places where that tug-of-war tends to show up:

• Routine and novelty. You may need a predictable structure to feel settled, and also get bored and restless inside it. The routine that calms you can start to feel like a cage.
• Too much and too little stimulation. Noise, light and crowds can overwhelm you, while a quiet, empty afternoon can leave you under-stimulated and unable to start anything.
• Focus. You might lock onto one interest for hours, then struggle to shift when something else needs your attention. Or you can’t settle on anything, even the things you care about.
• Connection and recovery. You may want people around you and enjoy talking, then need a long stretch alone afterward to recover. That same post puts it this way: “You might be highly social and talkative (ADHD) but feel completely drained and confused by the nuances of those same social interactions (Autism).”

Here is how Dr. Menon describes it from her evaluations:

AuDHD is not a formally recognized medical diagnosis. Instead, it emerged from the neurodiverse community as a way to express the overlap in the lived experiences of people with these 2 diagnoses. The medical profession didn’t recognize the 2 diagnoses as co-occurring until 2013. As a clinician, it’s my responsibility to validate that lived experience, both strengths and difficulties, while also recognizing the key differences between the 2 medical diagnoses. In practice, I see clients who meet one or both sets of criteria. When I evaluate adults, it becomes clear that one set of behaviors leading to one diagnosis dominates the client’s early development. When task challenges are complex, behaviors and responses are difficult to predict consistently, even in consistent environments or task demands; that’s when I consider more than one diagnosis.

These patterns matter for diagnosis too, because one set of traits can hide the other. ADHD may be the obvious part while an autistic need for predictability goes unnoticed. Or strict routines built to cope can make ADHD look milder than it is.

Why AuDHD is often missed in adults, and in women especially

Some people don’t recognize the combined pattern until adulthood, whether neither condition was ever named or only one was. A few forces work together here.

The pre-2013 rule. Before DSM-5, the manual didn’t allow both diagnoses together. If one was given, the question of the other was usually closed.

One diagnosis can end the search. Once a person has an explanation that fits part of the picture, nobody may think to look further. The part that doesn’t fit gets put down to personality, anxiety or stress.

Masking. Many autistic adults learn to hide their traits to fit in, often called masking or camouflaging. In a 2017 study of 92 autistic adults in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Hull and colleagues noted that camouflaging “has also been proposed as an explanation for the missed or late diagnosis of females with ASC” (autism spectrum conditions). For some participants, the study found, “their camouflaging, even if it was involuntary, resulted in a delay or questioning of their ASC diagnosis.”

Girls get missed from the start. In 2017, Loomes, Hull and Mandy reviewed studies of children in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. They found the true ratio of autistic boys to girls “is not 4:1, as is often assumed; rather, it is closer to 3:1,” and that “girls who meet criteria for ASD are at disproportionate risk of not receiving a clinical diagnosis.” Girls who are missed as children often grow into women who are still wondering.

We write about this pattern in more depth in our post on late-diagnosed ADHD and autism in women and in nine common questions about autism in women.

AuDHD burnout

Many adults first start asking about AuDHD when they hit a wall they can’t explain. Autistic burnout has a research definition. In a 2020 study in Autism in Adulthood, Raymaker and colleagues described it as “pervasive, long-term (typically 3+ months) exhaustion, loss of function, and reduced tolerance to stimulus.” They found it resulted from “chronic life stress and a mismatch of expectations and abilities without adequate supports.”

When ADHD is also present, the executive-function demands of ADHD may add another layer of difficulty on top of masking.

Our post on autistic burnout and how it differs from regular burnout covers the signs and what recovery involves.

How an AuDHD assessment works

There’s no single “AuDHD test,” and an online quiz can’t tell you whether you have it. An evaluation looks at autism and ADHD separately, each against its own criteria, and then at how they interact in your life. At Thrive Collective, autism evaluations are designed with that overlap in mind. Our psychological testing page says: “Our evaluations also consider co-occurring conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and mood disorders.”

Here’s how our testing process runs:

• Intake. A comprehensive intake appointment, in person or by telehealth, to gather your history and pin down the questions the evaluation needs to answer.
• A testing proposal. This sets out the cost, the specific questions, and the types of tests we’ll use to answer them.
• Testing. It’s done over two to three sessions. It combines face-to-face assessments “completed in the office or via telehealth” with questionnaires completed by you and, where helpful, people who know you well.
• History. For autism, the process includes “a comprehensive review of developmental history.” For ADHD, it includes “a thorough interview and review of available records, and questionnaires completed by 2 or more sources.”
• Report and feedback. We prepare a thorough report with practical recommendations and go through it with you in a feedback session, three to four weeks after testing is complete.

Dr. Menon provides adult evaluations. She is licensed in Illinois and practices by telehealth under the authority of PSYPACT in participating states, so many adults outside Illinois can work with her. As our post on what psychological testing for adults actually tells you explains, the goal is a detailed map of how your brain works, not a label.

In Dr. Menon’s words:

All evaluations start with an intake session. One of the goals of the intake session is to determine the “scope” of the evaluation. A full evaluation for adults, for one or both diagnoses, can be completed via telehealth in 3-4 appointments. Clients receive psychoeducation about the diagnosis (if any), resources, and recommendations for next steps.

For fees and insurance, see therapy and testing costs in Ottawa, Illinois. For the sessions themselves, read what a psychological test involves. If your question is “ADHD or autism?” rather than “both?”, start with whether you might have ADHD or autism.

After a diagnosis

A diagnosis is information. What you do with it is what changes things. Our guide to life after a late autism or ADHD diagnosis walks through the first twelve months.

If you want concentrated support rather than weekly sessions, Dr. Menon runs two intensives. Autism Unlocked is a “Fully virtual program for adults (18+)” for people who are newly diagnosed or wondering if they’re autistic. The ADHD intensive combines evaluation, testing and therapy into one focused program for adults. For ongoing support by video, see our online therapy page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AuDHD a real diagnosis?

No. AuDHD is a community term, not a diagnosis in the DSM-5. What you can be formally diagnosed with is autism spectrum disorder and ADHD together. That has only been allowed since 2013, when the American Psychiatric Association changed the rules. Before that, clinicians following the manual didn’t give both diagnoses to the same person.

Do I have AuDHD or just ADHD?

Only an evaluation can tell you. The question is whether you also meet the criteria for autism, which looks at social communication and at restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. Research suggests roughly 1 in 5 young people with ADHD meet the threshold for autism, so it’s a reasonable question to ask.

Can AuDHD get worse with age?

Both start in childhood, so the traits don’t usually appear for the first time in adulthood. What often changes is the load. More responsibility, less structure, or years of masking can make coping much harder. That can feel like the conditions getting worse. It’s also a common point at which adults first seek an evaluation.

Is AuDHD a mental illness?

In the DSM-5, autism and ADHD are both classed as neurodevelopmental disorders. That means they relate to how the brain develops, starting in childhood. They’re different from conditions like depression or anxiety, although autistic and ADHD adults can have those too. Many people see both as natural differences in how brains work.

Is there medication for AuDHD?

There’s no medication for AuDHD as such. Medication may be part of ADHD treatment, so it’s worth discussing with a prescriber such as a psychiatrist. For autism itself, UK guidance from NICE advises against using antipsychotic medication “for the management of core features of autism in adults.” Autistic people may still take medication for co-occurring conditions such as anxiety.

The clinicians at Thrive Collective do not prescribe medications, but we do collaborate with prescribers and enjoy being part of a client’s medical team. We believe it’s in clients’ best interest to receive multidisciplinary care.

How do I get tested for AuDHD?

Look for a psychologist who evaluates adults for both autism and ADHD. At Thrive Collective, testing starts with an intake appointment, followed by two to three testing sessions and a feedback session with a written report. A full adult evaluation, for one or both diagnoses, can be done by telehealth. The first step is a consultation.

Where to start

If this post described something you recognize, you don’t have to settle it with a quiz. Read more about Dr. Menon and how she works first if you like.

When you’re ready, book a consultation. It’s the place to talk through what you’ve noticed and whether testing for autism, ADHD, or both is the right next step.

Sources

All retrieved 19 to 21 September 2026.

• American Psychiatric Association. Highlights of Changes from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5. 2013.
• Antshel, K. M., & Russo, N. Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD: Overlapping Phenomenology, Diagnostic Issues, and Treatment Considerations. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21(5), 34, 2019. doi.org
• Cleveland Clinic. Understanding AuDHD. November 24, 2025.
• Ghirardi, L., et al. The familial co-aggregation of ASD and ADHD: a register-based cohort study. Molecular Psychiatry, 23(2), 257-262, 2018. doi.org
• Hollingdale, J., Woodhouse, E., Young, S., Fridman, A., & Mandy, W. Autistic spectrum disorder symptoms in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analytical review. Psychological Medicine, 50(13), 2240-2253, 2020. doi.org
• Hours, C., Recasens, C., & Baleyte, J. M. ASD and ADHD Comorbidity: What Are We Talking About? Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 837424, 2022. doi.org
• Hull, L., et al. “Putting on My Best Normal”: Social Camouflaging in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(8), 2519-2534, 2017. doi.org
• Lai, M. C., et al. Prevalence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses in the autism population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry, 6(10), 819-829, 2019. doi.org30289-5)
• Loomes, R., Hull, L., & Mandy, W. What Is the Male-to-Female Ratio in Autism Spectrum Disorder? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(6), 466-474, 2017. doi.org
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management (CG142). Published 2012, last updated June 14, 2021.
• Raymaker, D. M., et al. “Having All of Your Internal Resources Exhausted Beyond Measure and Being Left with No Clean-Up Crew”: Defining Autistic Burnout. Autism in Adulthood, 2(2), 132-143, 2020. doi.org
• Rong, Y., Yang, C.-J., Jin, Y., & Wang, Y. Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 83, 101759, 2021. doi.org

This post is educational and isn’t a substitute for an individualized evaluation or medical advice.