5 Signs You Might Have Both ADHD and Autism
You’ve probably heard of ADHD. Maybe even autism.
But what if your child—or you—show signs of both?
It’s more common than you might think. In fact, recent research suggests that 30% to 80% of individuals with autism also meet criteria for ADHD—and vice versa (Leitner, 2014).
And yet, this dual diagnosis is still frequently missed. Why?
Because when someone is struggling with attention, impulsivity, or sensory overload, professionals often try to fit them into one box. You’re either “just ADHD” or “on the spectrum.”
But brains don’t work like checklists.
As a child psychologist specializing in neurodiversity, I’ve met hundreds of teens who live at this intersection. They don’t quite fit the mold of “just ADHD” or “just autistic”—and because of that, their needs often go unmet.
So in this post, we’re going to explore 5 signs that you (or your teen) might be showing traits of both ADHD and autism—and why recognizing this can change everything.
First, What Does It Mean to Have Both?
Having both ADHD and autism isn’t just about meeting criteria for two diagnoses. It’s about understanding how those traits interact.
Autism tends to impact:
Social understanding
Sensory processing
Need for routine and predictability
Focus on special interests
ADHD tends to impact:
Attention and task initiation
Impulsivity and emotional reactivity
Motivation and reward response
Time perception and planning
When someone has both, the overlap can be confusing—even for professionals.
Here Are 5 Signs You Might Be Seeing Both ADHD and Autism
1. You’re Extremely Distracted—But Also Hyper-Focused on Specific Interests
Kids with ADHD are often described as distracted, forgetful, or easily bored.
But if your child also has autism, you might notice something else:
They’re laser-focused on topics they care deeply about.
They might jump from task to task during homework—but spend three uninterrupted hours building a perfect Minecraft city or memorizing Pokémon stats.
This is more than typical ADHD hyperfocus. It’s often an autistic special interest—a deep, passion-driven focus that brings structure, joy, and calm.
Parent Story: “My son can’t stay focused in math class for 5 minutes, but he just spent 6 hours coding a video game from scratch—no reminders, no breaks.”
What to look for:
Strong difficulty shifting into unpreferred tasks, but resistance to leaving preferred ones
Obsessive-level focus on niche topics or repetitive activities
High distress when interest is interrupted
2. You Crave Social Connection—But Struggle to Navigate It
ADHD teens are often described as “too much” socially—talking nonstop, interrupting, or over-sharing.
Autistic teens are sometimes seen as “aloof” or “socially awkward”—struggling with social cues or reciprocity.
But when someone is both ADHD and autistic, they often desperately want to connect—and still find it confusing or painful.
Teen Quote: “I talk too much because I’m excited… but then people say I’m annoying. So I stop talking completely. It’s like I don’t know how to do it right.”
What to look for:
Intense social motivation paired with frequent misunderstandings
Emotional outbursts after social rejection
Difficulty recognizing sarcasm, teasing, or shifting group dynamics
Masking behaviors—being overly agreeable or mimicking peers to fit in
3. You’re Constantly in Motion—But Also Overwhelmed by Sensory Input
ADHD is associated with fidgeting, restlessness, and sensory-seeking (touching, bouncing, tapping).
Autism is associated with sensory sensitivities—avoiding loud sounds, bright lights, or certain textures.
When someone has both, it creates a confusing tug-of-war:
“I can’t sit still—but everything around me is too much.”
This can lead to meltdowns, shutdowns, or panic attacks—especially in overstimulating environments like schools, malls, or busy households.
Example: A teen who paces constantly to regulate their body, but wears noise-canceling headphones all day because the world feels too loud.
What to look for:
Sensory avoidance in some areas, while seeking stimulation in others
Trouble regulating energy levels (either crashing or overstimulated)
Difficulty calming down without movement or input (e.g., rocking, chewing, pacing)
4. You Seem “Emotionally Immature”—But It’s Really Emotional Dysregulation
Both ADHD and autism impact emotional regulation, but in different ways.
ADHD leads to emotional impulsivity (quick tears, explosive reactions, mood swings)
Autism often involves difficulty identifying and communicating feelings (alexithymia)
Put together, this might look like:
Intense emotions that appear “out of nowhere”
Meltdowns that seem disproportionate to the situation
Shame or confusion afterward (“I don’t know why I freaked out”)
Parent Note: “My daughter goes from calm to yelling in seconds—then just shuts down. She’s not trying to be difficult. It’s like she has no off-switch once she’s upset.”
What to look for:
Frequent overwhelm in response to unexpected changes
Emotional outbursts followed by exhaustion
Inability to explain feelings until hours or days later
Difficulty with transitions—even between fun activities
5. You Appear “High Functioning”—But You’re Exhausted From Masking
One of the most misunderstood signs of combined ADHD + autism is masking—the act of hiding or compensating for neurodivergent traits to appear “normal.”
Many teens (especially girls and AFAB individuals) learn to blend in:
Pretending to understand social cues
Mimicking others’ behavior
Over-apologizing, people-pleasing, or pushing through discomfort
At school, they may look fine—maybe even excel academically. But at home? They crash. They lash out. They retreat.
Parent Observation: “Everyone says my child is doing great. But at home, they melt down over the smallest thing. It’s like they hold it all in until they’re safe.”
What to look for:
“Good at school, a mess at home” dynamic
Extreme exhaustion after social interaction
Anxiety or depression due to constant self-monitoring
Inconsistency in abilities depending on the environment
Why This Diagnosis Matters
When ADHD or autism is diagnosed in isolation, support plans often miss half the picture.
A teen with ADHD who is also autistic might need predictability, sensory accommodations, and social coaching—not just medication.
A teen with autism who also has ADHD might need help with task initiation, impulse control, and emotional regulation—not just social skills groups.
Getting the full picture means more targeted support, less shame, and a greater sense of self-understanding.
A Final Word: You’re Not Broken—You’re Wired Differently
If you—or your child—see yourself in this post, know this:
You’re not lazy. You’re not dramatic. You’re not failing at being “normal.”
You have a brain that processes the world uniquely—and that comes with challenges and strengths.
Learning to live well with both ADHD and autism starts with recognition. From there, we can build strategies, systems, and supports that fit who you actually are—not who the world expects you to be.
And as a psychologist, I can promise you: it’s never too late to understand yourself better.
References
Greene, R. W. (2014). The Explosive Child: A new approach for understanding and parenting easily frustrated, chronically inflexible children. Harper.
Leitner, Y. (2014). The co-occurrence of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children–what do we know? Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 268. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00268
Murray, C., & Carpenter, L. A. (2022). The co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A review of the evidence. Current Psychiatry Reports, 24(2), 45–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-022-01306-1
