What is AuDHD? Understanding When Autism and ADHD Coexist

Autism and ADHD often occur together.

It seems like lately, every time I read something online from the autism community, AuDHD is mentioned. In our household, we have a mix of both autism and ADHD, so I have an interest in this topic.

If you have a child or work with autistic children, you may already be familiar with the term. AuDHD refers to a combination of autism and ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) characteristics, and it's more common than you might think for people to have both.

In fact, researchers are beginning to explore whether having both autism and ADHD may constitute a unique condition all its own. For parents of AUDHD children, understanding these overlapping traits can be essential for providing the right support at home and in school.

Table of Contents

1. What is AUDHD?

   A quick look at what AUDHD means and why it's important.

2. Shared Traits of Autism and ADHD

   How autism and ADHD symptoms overlap, including attention, impulsivity, social skills, and sensory sensitivities.

3. How Common is AUDHD?

   Insights on how often people have both autism and ADHD.

4. How to Tell Autism and ADHD Apart

   Key differences to help you identify if your child has one or both conditions.

5. Could AUDHD Be a Unique Condition?

   Exploring theories that suggest AUDHD may be its own form of neurodivergence.

6. Parenting Tips for AUDHD

   Practical advice on routines, organization, and social skills for parenting a child with AUDHD.

7. Conclusion

   Final thoughts on supporting children with both autism and ADHD traits.

   
   

In this post, we’ll go over what AUDHD means, how autism and ADHD symptoms overlap, how common it is, and how to tell if a child has one or the other. We’ll also share practical tips on parenting a child with AUDHD and how you can help them thrive.

Overlap of Symptoms in Autism and ADHD

Both autistic and ADHD children respond well to positive reinforcement.

Autism and ADHD are distinct neurodevelopmental conditions, yet they share several overlapping symptoms. Many children with both autism and ADHD experience challenges with:

• Attention and Focus: Both autistic and ADHD children often have difficulty sustaining attention, particularly for tasks they find uninteresting. However, hyperfocus on favorite topics is common in autism, while ADHD tends to involve difficulty focusing in general.

• Impulsivity and Self-Regulation: Impulsivity is a key ADHD trait but is also common in children with autism, particularly when they’re experiencing sensory overload or strong emotions. This can make it difficult for kids to follow directions or maintain self-control in different situations.

• Social Communication: Both conditions can make it harder for children to navigate social interactions. Children with ADHD may be socially impulsive, interrupting others or speaking out of turn, while autistic children often struggle with social cues and understanding the perspective of others.

• Sensory Processing Issues: While sensory sensitivities are more commonly associated with autism, children with ADHD may also experience sensory processing challenges, such as sensitivity to bright lights, loud sounds, or touch.

  
  

How Common Is It to Have Both Autism and ADHD?

Having both autism and ADHD is more common than once believed. Studies suggest that approximately 30–80% of people with autism also have ADHD symptoms, while around 20–50% of individuals with ADHD display traits of autism. This high level of overlap has led researchers to consider the possibility that autism and ADHD might be part of a broader spectrum of neurodevelopmental conditions rather than entirely separate categories. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association updated the DSM-5 to allow a dual diagnosis of autism and ADHD, a significant shift from prior versions that treated the two as mutually exclusive.

Telling the Difference Between Autism and ADHD

Many times when a child is young parents may wonder if their child "just has ADHD" or if the difficulties the child is having can be completely explained with an ADHD diagnosis.

Completing a series of small tasks is often easier for children with AUDHD rather than tackling large tasks all at once.

While autism and ADHD can have similar traits, there are key differences that may help parents and caregivers recognize which condition a child might have if only one is present.

Here are some distinguishing characteristics to consider:

• Social Interaction:

  • Autism: Social challenges often involve difficulty understanding and responding to social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions. Autistic children may prefer solitary activities and can struggle with empathy or perspective-taking.

  • ADHD: Children with ADHD may have social difficulties primarily due to impulsivity, which can lead to interrupting or speaking out of turn, but they generally understand social cues and want to connect with others.

    
    

• Interests and Routines:

  • Autism: Autistic children often display intense focus on specific topics, hobbies, or routines. They may engage in repetitive behaviors or insist on rigid schedules and rituals.

  • ADHD: Children with ADHD tend to have shifting interests and are usually more flexible with routines, often getting bored quickly and jumping from one activity to another.

    
    

• Sensory Sensitivities:

  • Autism: Sensory sensitivities are highly common in autism and can include strong reactions to sounds, textures, lights, or smells.

  • ADHD: While some children with ADHD do experience sensory issues, these are typically less pronounced than in autism and are often connected to high levels of physical activity rather than sensory aversions. Many children with ADHD strongly seek out movement or sensory experiences but may not have the same sensitivities to smells, sounds, or other stimuli.

    
    

• Communication Style:

  • Autism: Communication differences in autism often include delayed speech or language development, as well as literal interpretations of language. Nonverbal cues may also be less expressive or harder for others to interpret.

  • ADHD: Communication challenges in ADHD usually relate to impulse control, such as interrupting or difficulty listening attentively, rather than developmental language delays.

    
    

Understanding these differences can be a helpful starting point for parents seeking to identify whether their child’s behaviors align more closely with autism, ADHD, or a combination of both.

Is AUDHD a Separate Condition?

As researchers explore the overlap between autism and ADHD, some speculate that having both conditions may constitute a unique diagnosis. Although this theory is still under investigation, researchers like Eynat Gal, in a 2021 study, discuss how these overlapping traits suggest a distinct subtype of neurodivergence.

AUDHD may involve a specific profile of strengths and challenges that differ from either autism or ADHD alone. This perspective could shift how treatment is approached, with interventions tailored specifically to AUDHD traits rather than treating autism and ADHD as isolated conditions.

Practical Tips for Parenting a Child with AUDHD

Children with both ADHD and autism often respond well to visual supports.

Parenting a child with AUDHD can bring unique challenges, but understanding their needs and supporting them with targeted strategies can make a world of difference. Here are some practical tips:

• Create Routines with Flexibility: While routines are often essential for autistic children, ADHD symptoms may make sticking to a rigid schedule difficult. Build routines but leave room for small changes when necessary. For instance, if a task is taking longer than expected, allow extra time rather than moving on abruptly.

• Use Visual Supports: Visual schedules, charts, and reminders can help children with AUDHD organize their day. These tools work especially well for visual learners and can reduce the cognitive load of remembering each task, helping children stay focused.

• Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Completing a series of small tasks may be easier for

  children with AUDHD than tackling large assignments all at once. Breaking tasks into manageable steps can reduce overwhelm and help with both attention and organization.

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  Children with ADHD often benefit from regular movement, which can also help relieve sensory overload for autistic children.

  
  

  Encourage Physical Activity: Children with ADHD often benefit from regular movement, which can also help relieve sensory overload for autistic children. Try incorporating short movement breaks between tasks or using sensory toys that provide subtle movement while they sit (such as fidget spinners, chair bands, or textured cushions).

• Prioritize Positive Reinforcement: Both autistic and ADHD children respond well to positive reinforcement, especially when it acknowledges specific achievements rather than general praise. This can help boost self-esteem and encourage the repetition of desired behaviors.

• Foster Social Skills Through Play: Structured play and role-play activities can be beneficial for teaching social skills. You might encourage group games that involve turn-taking, for example, or practice conversational skills through play scenarios that help your child learn about listening, patience, and reciprocity in communication.

  
  

Conclusion

Navigating life with both autism and ADHD traits, or AUDHD, involves understanding a complex blend of characteristics and challenges. Although research is ongoing, many parents find that combining tailored interventions from both autism and ADHD approaches helps their child develop skills that suit their unique profile.

If your child has AUDHD, remember that they bring a valuable perspective to the world, often displaying creativity, perseverance, and passionate interests. By supporting them with routines, strategies for social skills, and a positive outlook, you can help them flourish both in school and at home.

References

1. Reiersen, A. M., & Todd, R. D. (2008). "Co-occurrence of ADHD and autism spectrum disorders: Phenomenology and treatment." Neurotherapeutics, 5(4), 565-570.

2. Gal, E., & Dyck, M. (2021). "Is Autism with ADHD a Distinct Diagnosis? Cognitive and Behavioral Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder with ADHD Compared to Autism Spectrum Disorder Alone." Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.