It’s a term that is frequenting our social feeds, but what is AuDHD, and what really happens when autistic and ADHD traits unite?
Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are both well known in the neurodivergent space.
But combine the two and you get the lesser-known AuDHD, which refers to someone who has both an autism and an ADHD diagnosis.
Coexistence may seem surprising given that autism and ADHD traits are often contradictory – think caution versus risk-taking or a need for routine versus spontaneity.
Despite this, AuDHD is surprisingly common.
Almost 40 per cent of people with ADHD also meet the diagnostic criteria for autism, and vice versa.
And what’s even more common is the co-occurrence of traits in someone diagnosed with ADHD without meeting the full diagnostic criteria for autism (or the other way round), which may be as high as 80 per cent.
Prior to 2013, autism and ADHD were studied in isolation.
But now, as the research grows, experts are understanding the bigger picture of AuDHD and how neurodivergent traits can coexist.
What are the signs of AuDHD in adults?
People with AuDHD will often have a blend of both autistic and ADHD traits, according to Melbourne psychologist Dr Tamara May.
“Autism traits include differences in social communication, a need for sameness, intense interests and sensory sensitivities,” Dr May explains.
“ADHD traits include inattention, disorganisation, impulsivity, difficulty relaxing, and always being on the go.”
To be considered a disorder, she says these traits must cause substantial difficulties in a person’s life.
When both diagnoses are present, Dr May says “they may interfere with the development and maintenance of social relationships, impact the ability to gain and sustain employment, affect study or make everyday activities more challenging”.
What happens when autism and ADHD clash?
Dr May says it can sometimes feel like a tug of war between the unique experiences, challenges and needs of ADHD and autism.
“Social interactions may be harder, firstly from autistic differences such as not knowing what to do and say in social situations, combined with ADHD difficulties like not being able to focus on what’s being said in a conversation or unintentionally interrupting others,” she explains.
Daily challenges can also become twice as hard.
“This can make it more difficult to form and maintain relationships, and negatively impact a person’s self-confidence,” Dr May adds.
Psychologist Rachael Walden, who is known as The Bondi Psychologist, says procrastination and perfectionism are common traits in this dynamic.
“AuDHD can look like starting everything and finishing nothing,” Walden notes.
“Too many options can lead to complete paralysis, and time blindness is common.”
From strong aversions to constant fidgeting, Walden adds that sensory experiences can be extreme in people with AuDHD.
“There’s often a constant swing between seeking stimulation and avoiding it,” she says.
The unexpected differences of AuDHD
Despite its conflicting traits, people with AuDHD can find joy in the harmony of hyperfocus and really excel in their areas of interest.
“The special interests present in autism can lead to extensive and encyclopaedic knowledge about a topic,” Dr May explains.
“Combined with ADHD traits such as periods of intense focus on novel or interesting things, a person with AuDHD can quickly become an expert across a large range of topics.”
Walden adds that curiosity and creativity often shine through.
“There can be intense curiosity, creativity and strong pattern recognition,” Walden says.
“When engaged, focus can become so deep that everything else falls away.”
Can people mask their AuDHD traits?
Masking occurs when a neurodivergent person suppresses or hides their autistic or ADHD traits to fit into a neurotypical world.
While many people with AuDHD can mask their traits, Walden says it usually comes at a deeply exhausting cost.
“(People with AuDHD will often) have a very thorough and intellectual understanding of social rules, rather than an intuitive learning seen in neurotypical people,” she explains.
Dr May adds that this constant masking can have an impact on someone’s identity.
“This can take significant effort to sustain and can lead to people losing touch with their sense of self or identity,” Dr May says.
AuDHD burnout is real
People with autism, ADHD or AuDHD are more vulnerable to burnout than neurotypical people.
This overload comes not only from stress, but also from the cumulative effort of navigating everyday life.
Socialising, sensory overload and constant mental activity can quickly drain energy, leaving them feeling like they are ‘too much’ or out of sync with others, according to Dr May.
“When someone has autism and ADHD, it can be easier for them to push beyond their physical, mental and emotional limits,” she explains.
“People may cycle through repeated burnout – coping for a short time before becoming exhausted and unable to function.”