What Is AuDHD?
“Why is my child so focused… and also completely distracted?”
“How can they memorize every Pokémon but forget to brush their teeth?”
If you’ve ever asked yourself questions like these, you’re not alone. And there’s a good chance your child might be one of many who experience the combined traits of autism and ADHD—a neurodevelopmental overlap known as AuDHD.
While still underrecognized in many schools and even by some clinicians, AuDHD is far from rare. Understanding this unique neurotype can be the key to unlocking your child’s strengths, improving emotional regulation, and getting the right support in place.
In this article, we’ll explore:
What AuDHD really is (and what it isn’t)
Why it’s often missed or misdiagnosed
How AuDHD traits show up in real life
How to support kids and teens with both autism and ADHD
What parents, teachers, and therapists need to know
What Does “AuDHD” Mean?
AuDHD is a term used to describe individuals—often children and teens—who meet criteria for both Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These are two separate but frequently co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions.
Research has shown that:
Up to 50–70% of individuals with autism also have significant ADHD traits (Leitner, 2014).
About 20–50% of children with ADHD may meet diagnostic criteria for autism (Sokolova et al., 2017).
Although the DSM-5-TR now allows both diagnoses to be made together (a change from earlier versions), many children are still underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed—especially girls, BIPOC children, and kids with strong verbal skills who don’t “look” autistic in stereotypical ways.
The Overlap: How Autism and ADHD Interact
While autism and ADHD are distinct, they share some overlapping features. Children with AuDHD may:
Talk a mile a minute… or go quiet and shutdown.
Be deeply sensitive and compassionate… but struggle to filter their emotions.
Have brilliant imaginations… but hit a wall when it comes to completing tasks.
Appear high-functioning in one setting… and deeply dysregulated in another.
Real-Life Signs of AuDHD in Children and Teens
Recognizing AuDHD means learning to see beneath the behavior. Here are some of the ways it might show up:
1. Hyperfocus and Forgetfulness
A teen can spend hours designing a Minecraft world in perfect detail—but forget they were supposed to eat dinner. This isn’t oppositional; it’s a brain wired for deep engagement, not split attention.
2. Emotional Overload
A child might cry over a math problem, then laugh uncontrollably two minutes later. Mood swings are common—especially when executive functioning is taxed or sensory needs aren’t met.
3. Perfectionism + Procrastination
Many AuDHD kids struggle to start tasks because they fear doing them wrong. They might seem lazy or defiant, but what they’re really feeling is anxiety and shame.
4. Sensory Challenges
Sound sensitivity, clothing aversions, picky eating, or refusal to go into crowded rooms—these are common signs. And they’re often more noticeable in autistic kids with ADHD who may have lower thresholds for overwhelm.
5. Social Misattunement
Some kids may interrupt constantly, while others script conversations or avoid peers entirely. It’s not that they don’t care about connection—they just process social information differently.
Why AuDHD Often Goes Missed—Especially in Girls
One of the most heartbreaking realities is how many children, especially girls and gender-diverse youth, go years without a diagnosis. Why?
Masking: Many kids, particularly girls, learn to hide or camouflage symptoms at school—leading to exhaustion, anxiety, or depression at home.
Bias in evaluation tools: Most diagnostic tools are normed on white, cisgender boys.
Strengths masking struggles: High verbal IQ, artistic talent, or academic success can obscure executive dysfunction or emotional distress.
As a result, many AuDHD youth are misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, or even oppositional defiant disorder—when their core challenges are actually neurological.
Importantly, the DSM-5-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2022) continues to recognize that ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be diagnosed together—a change first introduced in DSM-5. The text revision further emphasizes that symptoms of these conditions can evolve over time and may present differently based on gender, age, and environmental context—adding clarity to how nuanced these co-occurring conditions truly are.
How to Support an AuDHD Child or Teen
1. Use Brain-Based Strategies, Not Behavior Charts
Punishment and rewards don’t rewire executive function. Instead:
Break tasks into chunks
Use visual timers or checklists
Build in movement and sensory breaks
Scaffold independence over time
2. Co-Regulate, Don’t Just Discipline
When a child melts down, they need connection, not correction. Stay calm, offer sensory tools, and validate what they’re feeling—even if you don’t fully understand it.
3. Build on Strengths
Focus on what lights them up. Coding? Dinosaurs? Graphic novels? These aren’t distractions—they’re pathways to learning, self-esteem, and purpose.
4. Support Social Communication Authentically
Rather than forcing playdates or group work, follow your child’s social preferences. Help them find their people—whether it’s one close friend, an online group, or a neurodivergent club.
5. Consider Formal Evaluation
A comprehensive neuropsychological or autism assessment can clarify what’s happening—and open doors to accommodations, services, and support. Make sure your evaluator is experienced in AuDHD, not just classic autism or ADHD.
Why Language Matters: AuDHD is Not a Disorder to Be "Fixed"
This is essential: AuDHD is not a character flaw, discipline problem, or academic failure. It’s a neurotype—a different brain wiring that brings both challenges and strengths. When supported correctly, these kids grow into resilient, creative, deeply compassionate adults.
They don’t need to be normal. They need to be understood.
Final Thoughts: The Power of Seeing Your Child Clearly
It’s incredibly hard to parent a child who doesn’t fit the mold. But once you begin to understand why your child does what they do—why their brain processes the world this way—everything begins to shift.
Compassion replaces confusion.
Connection replaces control.
Support replaces shame.
If you think your child might be navigating life with both autism and ADHD, keep going. Keep advocating. You’re not alone—and neither are they.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.; DSM-5-TR). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
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
Sokolova, E., Oerlemans, A. M., Rommelse, N. N., Groot, P., Hartman, C. A., & Buitelaar, J. K. (2017). A causal and mediation analysis of the comorbidity between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(6), 1595–1604. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3083-4
