- Autism and ADHD often happen together. Since 2013, doctors in the US can diagnose both in the same person.
- In a 2025 study of over 3.5 million US adults, about 1 in 4 autistic adults without an intellectual disability also had an ADHD diagnosis.
- Many late-diagnosed adults find out about one first and the other later.
- An autism assessment doesn't always check for ADHD. You can ask.
- Having both is often called AuDHD. The two can pull in opposite directions, which can feel confusing.
Where they overlap and where they pull apart
This is a simplified picture. Everyone is different, and many people only fit some of it.
| Autism often leans toward | ADHD often leans toward | With both, people describe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine | Wanting sameness and predictability | Getting bored by sameness | Needing routines and also fighting them |
| Focus | Deep focus on chosen interests | Attention that's hard to steer | Hours of hyperfocus, then can't start a simple task |
| Noise and busy places | Overload | Distraction | Both at once |
| Conversations | Unwritten rules are tiring | Interrupting or losing the thread | Masking twice as hard |
Signs worth asking about
If several of these have been true for most of your life, not just during stressful times, it may be worth asking about ADHD.
- Starting tasks is very hard, even ones you want to do.
- You lose things, forget appointments, or miss deadlines often.
- You feel restless, or need to move or fidget to think.
- Your attention drifts in conversations or while reading, even when you care.
- You act on impulse, then wish you had waited.
- Your energy and focus swing a lot from day to day.
Getting checked for ADHD
- Ask your autism assessor first. Check your report for ADHD. If it wasn't assessed, ask whether they can, or who they'd refer you to.
- Who does it. Psychologists and psychiatrists assess adult ADHD. Some primary care doctors do as well.
- A common first step. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) is a short screening questionnaire. Like autism screeners, it can't diagnose you.
- Treatment is a decision for you and a doctor. Options can include medication, coaching, and changes to your environment. This site doesn't recommend any one option.
The provider check on the assessment page works for ADHD assessments too.
What helps when you have both
The trick is often structure that still leaves room for change.
Routines with options
A fixed order for the day, with two or three choices inside each part. Predictable enough to feel safe, varied enough not to feel stuck.
Make time visible
Timers, alarms, and a written list of the next three things. Holding plans in your head is what drains you.
Work near someone
Sitting with someone while you each do your own task can make starting easier. It's often called body doubling.
Where this comes from
- Yerys, B. et al. (2025). ADHD among autistic adults in the US. JAMA Network Open. Data on 3.5 million adults, 2008 to 2019.
- DSM-5 (2013) allowed autism and ADHD to be diagnosed together for the first time.
Information, not medical advice.