What’s the difference between ASD and AuDHD?

In my case a psychiatrist suggested that I might have both (I assumed I had ADHD) and referred me to a specialist assessor who assessed for both simultaneously. But that is unusual I think.

Even though autism and adhd have overlapping symptoms, there are also other symptoms which do not over lap. With adhd that would be based around attention span / hyperactivity. If you Google it there are loads of info graphs which show the overlapping and distinctive symptoms. It can also happen that one condition masks the other, this especially happens in girls with both disorders. So the adhd masks the Autism and then when the adhd is treated the autistic traits become more apparent

That's just my opinion from extensive research. I also believe my daughter has Alexithymia which makes it hard for her to explain her emotions and understand others.

We all have expectations of how we should fit in and social norms. We are taught these from born.

I was diagnosed with both at the same time.

As I understand it, there is a lot of overlap (executive dysfunction, sensory overload) but also some very distinct differences.

ASD centres around:

-social and communication difficulties
-repetitive/rigid behaviours
-special interests

ADHD is more to do with either attention issues &/or hyperactivity/impulsivity.

The additional difficulties that I face are that the conditions compete against each other so I can crave routine and sameness while also needing dopamine and excitement. My brain also literally never shuts up so I am exhausted. Life is hard.

I think it's a very fine line! I often wonder if one day we'll decide they are one and the same and just present in many different ways.

May I ask why specifically you want to make this distinction? I'm asking as DD1 has had a similar journey of school referring for both ASD and ADHD assessment.

An ASD diagnosis was received after 3 years on NHS waiting list and a crash and burn foray into secondary education. DD decided to call it quits and not follow through on the referral for ADHD assessment as she doesn't feel an additional diagnosis will benefit her, especially as she is not interested in medication. I respect her autonomy, and have to accept that this stance means we'll never know whether medication might have enabled her to access education more comprehensively and take some GCSEs ‐she's in no way able to process information and organise her thinking in a way conducive to studying for exams, despite being quite bright.

We feel we've got a good handle on how best to meet her needs irrespective of whether there is an additional ADHD diagnosis, and we've made sure this is reflected in the outcomes and provision outlined in her EHCP.

I'm AuDHD. I have contradicting behaviours and difficulties.

I'm an extravert who loves socialising is exhausted and burnt out by socialising.

I am very impulsive and chaotic who hated routines, but without the safety of knowing what to expect, can cause extreme distress.

Just a few examples.

My life has been very difficult and I've only just been diagnosed at age 47

@DooDahFlumps it's difficult, in my opinion (parent, not professional in this area) because in order to "diagnose" the type of brain someone has, doctors had to create a list of features and these overlap between ADHD and autism. In real life, it's not as neat. So really it's about working out what might help the unique child in front of you to survive in the neurotypical world.

From your list, not paying attention and movement stands out to me. Especially if the movement seems impulsive. So maybe he has both, or has ADHD features which do not meet the threshold for diagnosis but still affect his ability to behave as school expect etc.

My understanding is that medication is often less helpful for AuDHD anyway, so you may want to look at how to support his executive functioning right now - the "Scattered but Smart" book has lots of ideas on this.

How can we all be neuro diverse but trying to fit into a neurotyical world?

My 13 yr old was diagnosed with AUDHD at the same time. I suspected autism but since her diagnosis I see more of her adhd ( perhaps that's with her now being a teen).
He adhd makes her impulsive, quick tempered and have high energy. Her autism makes her awkward in social situations, masks heavily, withdraw and burns out quickly.
It so hard for her having both because one condition fights against the other.
Every neurodiverse person is different though and it manifests differently. I believe we are all neurodiverse in some shape or form. We learn to fit into a neuro typical world so have to adapt to Social situations.

I'm an AuDHD adult, diagnosed in adulthood. In my case I had a battery of diagnostic tests for one, then the other, with the aim of separating out ADHD issues from autism issues. And anecdotally standard-issue ADHD meds wreck havoc on autistic brains, so that's another "helpful" indicator.

More generally - it's complicated. There are lots of overlapping behaviours, with underlying causes, and it's difficult to tease these out esp in children. I would focus on trying different strategies for both, and just keeping what works. It's clearer for adults.

Additional difficulties - without meaning to sound like a special snowflake you never quite know whether you wake up more autistic or ADHD on any given day. Strategies for ADHD sometimes work, sometimes not. Likewise for autism. Medication - as above. Giving stimulants to autistic people is not a fun party! Sometimes the two conditions broadly balance each other out, sometimes the opposite. I forever feel like I'm trying to control a giant unruly dog that pulls me in the direction it wants to go, and I can only follow.

(I work, fwiw. And broadly function. Most people don't know I'm diagnosed with either. But I use many coping mechanisms and definitely am not anywhere near my full potential.)

My understanding - and I’m not saying it’s right. - is that someone who is AuDHD has ADHD and is autistic.

Medication was helpful.

She was diagnosed a lot later.

She'd dropped out of a levels due to severe pain fatigue and anxiety. The pain and fatigue turned out to be due to a serious autoimmune condition. The anxiety plus difficulties with attention led to an adhd assessment and meds for adhd and anxiety (amytriptyline and duloxetine plus the adhd meds).

This helped focus and ability to concentrate and she was titrated to an appropriate dose and now takes long acting in the morning and short acting around 4pm.

There remained quite a lot of anxiety especially around social situations and she didn't go out and interact with people in person much. Interactions in person were... odd.

I'm wondering this as well. Both of my children have suspected ASD but they both feel like they have adhd. I've googled the subject to death and I'm still none the wiser.

My DD has AuDHD.

She was diagnosed with adhd first. Then medicated.

A number of issues remained after multiple years of medication and she is now diagnosed ASD also.