AuDHD 101

It is becoming increasingly common to have a dual diagnosis on Autism and ADHD (often referred to as being AuDHD). Not so long ago you were one or the other, so what’s going on?

• How common is it? A 2021 meta-analysis found that ~38–40% of autistic individuals also meet criteria for ADHD.

• Looking from the other side, a large U.S. survey reported about 1 in 8 (13%) children diagnosed with ADHD also had an autism diagnosis.

• Why we hear about AuDHD more now: Since DSM-5 (2013), clinicians have been allowed to diagnose autism and ADHD together (previous editions didn’t). Greater recognition—not a sudden spike in cases—explains much of the rise in dual diagnoses. 

What this means for your child

• Overlap can intensify daily demands (e.g., attention + sensory differences), which is why tailored supports matter more than generic approaches.  

• Co-occurrence is linked with higher needs—kids with both conditions typically require more coordinated supports across home and school. 

• The presentation is truly unique for each child – there are many overlapping features of Autism and ADHD but there are also several seemingly conflicting ones! How this shows up is genuinely individual.

Does your child have one diagnosis and you suspect the other? This is also very common – children don’t often receive both diagnoses at once. For my eldest son, starting ADHD medication following his diagnosis made his Autistic traits (at that time not diagnosed) more obvious. For example, once he wasn’t the one making all the noise, suddenly he realised there were noises he didn’t like much (like a motorbike zooming past).