If you have adhd but not Asd do you have sensory issues

[HeBeaverandSheBeaver]

Hello
Dd has adhd I'm in no doubt of her diagnosis but she is thinking about asd too.

She has sensory issues sound touch smell's temperature but she doesn't particularly have any other asd traits that I'm aware of. Maybe she is masking them but as a toddler or child I never noticed anything at all. I did notice things that can be linked to adhd as a toddler.

I'm wondering if others with adhd have sensory problems.

Yes, although not as serious as is sometimes described with ASD.

I have sensory issues with noise, especially white noise type things, but also music or general sound.

Temperature really flummoxes me - you know every time it gets very hot or cold and people post threads like "I hate winter - bring on summer!" or "I wish it would be cold again, can't stand this heat!" I seem to get the worst of both sides - can't cope in cold but also can't cope in heat and it's frustrating. Outside is basically hostile for about 8-9 months of the year.

Bright light as well I find hard to deal with. Like a sunny day or sparkles reflecting off water.

I have poor proprioception which looks like clumsiness (always covered in bruises from walking into furniture) and tends to mean that I like sitting with my legs all up on a chair. I was famous for sitting in uncomfortable-looking positions as a child. But a normal chair position is uncomfortable for me. My favourite chair is an armchair with support on all sides - I sit in Ikea Skruvsta most of the time. I'm probably a bit hypermobile, but not enough to cause problems enough for a diagnosis. I bought a weighted blanket which is great for sleeping and relaxing.

Smells - everyone says I have an oversensitive nose.

Texture - clothing, fabrics etc. I can wear the "bad" stuff but I would choose not to. It wouldn't cause a meltdown (which is why I say probably not as severe as somebody with ASD) but I would take it off ASAP as soon as I get home. I won't wear earbuds or earplugs, can't cope with the sensation of them in my ears.

I can feel stuff like earwax in my ears and dirt under my fingernails, make up, sun cream, droplets of water after a shower, grease on hands. Just constantly aware of these things and am irritated by them.

That's interesting and sounds similar. May I ask this one's a bit odd but do you like opening surprise gifts in front of the giver.

I don't have a problem with that, but not everyone with ADHD is the same! Sounds like that could be related to what people call rejection sensitivity. It's a specific part of emotional dysregulation that applies specifically to the sense that somebody might reject you or be upset with you about something, or excessive anxiety about the idea of rejection or upsetting somebody.

Obviously nobody likes rejection, but people struggling with rejection sensitivity have such a fear/worry about it that they will drive themselves quite mad going obsessively over and over and over an interaction (like when you replay an awkward conversation at the end of the day and cringe - but to an excessive extent) or avoid things due to a huge fear that they will get something wrong.

Obviously I'm not a doctor - the question of ADHD, ASD (or social anxiety) or both should all be looked at in the same assessment.

This is insanely similar to me - especially the hot/cold thing and the sitting! I can not stand being too hot, too cold or having to sit ‘properly’ in a chair.

I've got adhd but not diagnosed with autism. I have a lot of sensory issues.

Noise. The tube, hand dryers, loud noise. All make me feel anxious and the hand dryers cause me pain. Don't know how else to describe!

Temperature - struggle to tolerate heat and humidity. I don't like getting sweaty because i find it so distracting and its all I can think of so I'm pretty much unproductive most of summer. I also struggle to tolerate sunscreen because of the grease feeling. It's very distracting!

Smell. I've got off public transport before because of smell making me want to puke.

Texture - there's certain foods I cannot eat not because of the taste but because of texture. I need clothes to be natural fabrics and polyester particularly is intolerable.

I'm sensory seeking as well. I suspect I may be on the autism spectrum to be honest.

There is far less overlap between ADHD and ASD than people think. They are pretty distinct but have a high rate of comorbidity so if someone with "just" ADHD also has, for example, a lot of sensory sensitivities and difficulty with social situations, they're probably autistic too.

I have both but my DH only has ADHD and he does not have any sensory sensitivities. He is... a lot. Very loud, boisterous, messy, touchy-feely, he loves strong smells and tastes. Whereas I have issues with pretty much all sensory stimuli to the point I'd happily stay in my house forever so I didn't have to touch/hear/smell anything ever again 🙃

Amusedbush I'm sure I would be described as a lot too.😅
My dh said he could see why my colleagues don't like me.Tbh mid 50s is a bit late to change.
Convinced I have ADHD.

Also, high anxiety can mimic ADD traits - we were told this at dd's assessment. She scored highly for ADD, but the team assessing thought it was because of the anxiety caused by autism. They were right - she is now home educated and her focus is significantly improved. Also with hyperactivity - my ds often seems like he is 'driven by a motor' but it is stimming.

I am awaiting assessment for both autism and ADHD and am intrigued by what the outcome will be - a year ago I would have said I definitely have ADHD, but the results of my dc's assessments has made me wonder whether I am 'only' autistic. I do do a few ADHD things that would be harder to explain away with autism - we shall see!

I never realised that temperature sensitivity could be a sensory issue. I just never connected the dots until I saw the title for this thread and sure enough, other people are describing the same thing.

For me, the cold really hurts, and I'm almost phobic of it. While I love the heat, but almost too much. I slow down and revel in it, making me unable to engage my brain in anything else. Then I get heat stroke...

I've just started the process of getting an ADHD diagnosis but goodness knows what will come of it. I really wish it was one test for all ND. It's so hard to unpick.

Driven by a motor is such a terrible terrible description! It's outdated I think.

I understand what they are getting at - it's when the child is in such a state of dysregulation that they are basically manic, and can't hear or take anything in. It really does LOOK like they have been hijacked by a robot or remote control car. But it's not even remotely what is actually happening. And it's extremely inappropriate to transfer that to the adult criteria because it doesn't FEEL like being "driven by a motor".

Hello, my daughter 21 is awaiting an assessment for ADHD and suspected autism. She always hated us singing happy birthday to her from a young age. We had to stop doing it. The present opening sounds pretty similar.

Yes I have ADHD and LOADS of sensory stuff around light, sounds, smells. There's a real overlap with autism here. I also hyperfocus like a mad thing!

I've got the forms for a potential referral .
The result of my dh saying I talk so fast he cannot understand me.
I'm 56.

I have ADHD and am aware of some sensory things but I have epilepsy too which can be triggered by some visual input- patterns, certain light conditions and changes in temperature, lack of sleep which can be caused by noise so it is likely to be more to do with that. It causes me a lot.of anxiety though which I'm not sure if my ADHD exacerbates. I was screened for ASD as part of my diagnosis and it did not apply to me. So I suppose my answer is 'yes, sort of' although another condition is at play.