ADHD with sensory sensitivities or could this be autism too?

[DinDjarin1]

I know only a professional can diagnose but I'm looking for personal experiences of others to see if it is even worth going for an autism diagnosis.

I was diagnosed with ADHD six months ago (by a private psychiatrist who works also for the NHS, but waiting lists too long, as we all know). I sought diagnosis after seeing signs in my 7 year old - hyperactivity, fidgeting, emotional disregulation, black and white thinking, meltdowns, friendship struggles, and I was identifying a lot of these with myself.

However, what makes me think I have autism also is it runs in my family (two sisters with kids that have it, pretty sure my dad has it) also I get such sensory overwhelm with sounds, bright lights, heat, touch, also have PMDD. I can maintain eye contact but sometimes I focus on that so much I'm not really listening to what is being said, I'm going through the motions of nodding and making the right sounds.

I have intense interests but they don't last long which is why I thought adhd. But growing up I was very scared of noises apparently as a child, someone speaking in a raised or loud voice, I'd hold my breath. I wouldn't hug people or even touch them, I didn't really have any friends, just tagged along with two girls who took pity on me. I was obsessed with Victorian novels, parapsychology and generally lived at the library where it was calm and soothing environment. I also struggle with building and maintaining relationships. I overshare or don't speak at all. Don't know how to move a friendship on to deeper level, and forger to keep in touch.

I love environments where I feel safe, including the gym. Exercise, nutrition and psychology are my favourite topics that I could spend hours talking about them, but the school run is torture for me, all the small talk and kids running around and the bitchy mums (I hate any sort of rejection, perceived or real)

Have never been able to hold down a job, leave after 2years or less as get burnt out or stop being able to do the job, fall out of love with it. It's only now I'm realising how much the commute and open office environment affected me, so noisy and distracting.

There is a lot more but does any of these resonate with others that have ADHD only? Or would you say there are autistic traits too? I know the two have a lot of cross over.

I would ask your psychiatrist? But I can say that when my son was diagnosed he also had lots of sensory processing issues but the psychiatrist said he didn't have ASD as that was the only aspect he had, and didn't meet any other criteria and and he felt it was probably related to the ADHD.

My husband who has been diagnosed as an adult with ADHD has never lasted more than a couple of years at a job and says he believes it's due to the ADHD and loss of interest / increased boredom.

Diagnosis was through a private clinic and I deliberated between which diagnosis to go for as they don't do them at the same time. To help me they asked me to fill in forms and said based on my responses they were suggesting I go for the autism one first, but it was a lot more expensive so I opted for ADHD first as I thought if that comes back negative it would mean more likely I have autism. At the end of my assessment I did ask if I have ASD but the psychiatrist said we'll I'm assessing you for ADHD today and she said you do have quite a lot of sensory sensitivities but I'd need to go for a full diagnosis with a specialist.

I identified a lot with ADHD but not the forgetfulness, I never forget things, yes misplace them a lot like keys, phone pretty much all the time but I have an excellent memory and great at directions, etc but then procrastination is a big problem for me and getting started on tasks is difficult and I never really complete them fully.

It's so tough as I feel there is a lot of cross over but it's identifying the underlying need for the behaviour. Am I hyperfocusing or is it actually an intense interest (Japanese for example) which only lasted a month and then I gave it up.

Lots of adhd people also have sensory difficulties if that helps at all but the line is so fine between adhd and asd imo it can be hard to tell what's what.

I think ADHD and autism occur together more often than not.

I think you are right. A small example, I love to go window shopping especially home decor such as homesense, I get a real buzz out of looking at all the trinkets and colourful items, that I could easily waste/spend an hour there but then I get overwhelmed, the lights, the colours and designs of all the products, so much choice, I can't make a decision if I like something or not, and the distraction of all the other items in the store competing for my eyes to look at them, I walk out feeling this pressure to buy something because I've been in the store for so long but get completely overstimulated. But I keep doing that to myself, seeking the rush and feeling the overwhelm!

Can I just say, I have been engrossed in your OP because I'm so shocked at every single bullet point feeling as though someone's reading me back to me! I've been trying with the idea of private diagnosis for a while now, would you mind telling me some info on timescale/pricing/length of process if you're comfortable to do so? Sorry I don't have any answers for your actual question as I'm not in a position to offer any credible answers but I hope you get what you need to understand yourself better 😊

Haha, that is so relatable @DinDjarin1

I love shopping (preferably alone - I think that’s the autism 😂). It’s definitely a major dopamine seeking thing. But like you say, all of a sudden the sensory overwhelm of being out in crowds with the noise and the lights, plus the frustration of not having bought anything 🤪

That was really shit of your clinical pathologist - is this the way things are now? DD was diagnosed in 2017, ahead of the curve so to speak. We went in query inattentive ADHD and came out with that and autism.

I would say your prima face case for autism is pretty strong. Have you read “odd girl out”?

Ah I'm glad my post has been helpful, I had no clue about ND until I had my child and other ND parents with ND kids at his school were saying they thought his behaviour suggested he might be.

I'm in the South East, my ADHD assessment was £1k, autism one they quoted £2.5k it's a lot of money that's why I don't want go for it without feeling more certain.

I've always felt different and the odd one out all my life, and also felt I was behind when comparing myself to other people of similar age, life situation, like I haven't been able to reach my potential because I don't know how and keep burning out.

I'm intelligent and quick thinking, my hubby always tells me I'm 10 steps ahead of him in most conversations and I've figured out the solution whilst he's still explaining the problem, yet since becoming a parent I haven't recovered, I can't do basics things around the house, remember to do a regular food shop or plan anything unless it's last minute and I'm unable to hold down a job.

So knowing that it could also be autism as well as ADHD would be useful for future work accommodations and also help me teach coping strategies for my son (once I figure them out!)

It was, it's so difficult to get anyone to diagnose at the same time, every private clinic I approached that was recommended to me, do the assessments separately.

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll take a look. I feel a fraud, even said that to the psychiatrist, l said I feel I've fooled you and I haven't lied but why do I feel like I have, she said it was a common reaction.

I think I’ve got ADHD but I’m still waiting diagnosis, so I don’t know if I’m really qualified to speak on this, but a couple of things that make me wonder if it’s also autism for you is the fact that you have an excellent memory and also what you said about friendships when you were younger. I resonate with so much of what you’ve said, apart from perhaps the sensory things, but those two stand out to me.

I think psychiatrists tend to diagnose ADHD and psychologists autism which is why it is often a separate diagnosis. DH was diagnosed autistic and it was only a few years later a therapist suggested also ADHD which he was later diagnosed with. A high percentage of ASD people also have ADHD. I think they are only really beginning to understand the AuDHD dual diagnosis and it was only 2013 when the guidelines were changed to say you could have both. From your description I would say you quite possibly would also get an autism diagnosis. Whether you feel you want to spend 2.5K on it is up to you. I suppose one reason to know is that we were told its a bit like a seesaw with autism craving routine and adhd struggling to keep to routines. So it can lead to a lot of internal conflict. Also, adhd meds can lead to autism sensory difficulties increasing so something to bear in mind if you try meds.
I really hope one day they do a dual assessment as routine.

you might be HSP ....with some additional sensitivities - it is considered NT , normal wiring but....

I have adhd and struggle with bright lights, blinking lights, noises, clothing tags and a few other sensory issues. I discussed this with my psychiatrist at diagnosis who explained that those of us with adhd find it hard to filter out sensory stimulus or turn or attention away from it, hence why we can struggle in this way.

Same, prefer shopping alone. Went and got my wedding dress alone from a wedding warehouse 3 weeks before the wedding, I couldn't understand why I needed to make a day of it with drinks and take friends with me for their opinion. Similarly for my wedding I wasn't fussed about flowers or the cake, just asked mil if she wanted to sort it for me. Again, I couldn't understand why friends thought that was brave or stupid.

PS -I meant to type clinical psychologist not pathologist! Strange autocorrect I think

I really hope the professionals catch up as at the moment it's put on us to make a decision, I really struggled with which one to go for.

I do relate to the internal conflict, I crave an orderly life and neat house, I like everything to have a designated place, which I do manage to achieve for a week or two but then can't maintain it long term and the mess and clutter builds up. Even cutting my hair, I always have the intention of doing it regularly but then six months will have gone by, same with other self care, pampering stuff, I find it boring so can never stick to a regular routine.

I'm also in the early stages of perimenopause so I know that also adds to the confusion of what might be adhd, autism or hormones! Although, I have read that ND women really struggle during perimenopause and menopause because estrogen affects dopamine and serotonin levels

I'm confident you can have ADHD with sensory issues without necessarily being autistic. My DD wouldn't meet the diagnostic criteria for ASD, but has got a diagnosis of ADHD. She also has some sensory issues that have grown over time. She doesn't like tags in clothes, some clothes textures, some foods and some noises.

I've had a fun argument with someone on MN who was certain she must be autistic too then, but she really doesn't meet the criteria, or I would do something about it.

I'm sure that there are plenty of people with both, but it isn't universal.

I have ADHD with noise sensitivity. Right now I'm hiding in the kitchen while the rest of my family is (noisily) in the living room. I had a private ADHD diagnosis almost two years ago. In Ireland so it may be different but my psychiatrist did autism 'screening' as part of the assessment process and said he'd have referred me appropriately if I'd shown or met certain markers.

I have ADHD and some sensory issues, especially as a kid. However, I'm pretty practical and good with directions etc - drove trucks for a fair few years. I'm also dyspraxic and many people with dyspraxia struggle with cars yet alone 40t wagons. I think it doesn't always present uniformly

BTW, you don't need to wait for the NHS. I went via the right to choose pathway and was diagnosed within a few months by ADHD 360 with no additional wait for titration. If GP won't accept shared care (which I think they will as we're happy to refer me) ADHD 360 will continue to prescribe at the standard NHS prescription fee.

one of my has ADHD and sensory issues, they tend to go away when they take their stimulants ADHD medications and come back first thing in the morning or later a night ! things like sensory issues when they getting dressed or can't stand the noise of people eating them, issues with lights first thing in the morning. I wish they could have stimulants 24/7 as it would be a relief for all !