Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP
AuDHD is a term that describes a person who has both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Autism and ADHD frequently occur together. Understanding how they overlap can help families better recognize their child's strengths, challenges, and support needs. In this guide, we cover common AuDHD symptoms, how professionals test for AuDHD, and how speech and occupational therapy can help children thrive.
Key takeaways
AuDHD is a term used for people who are autistic and have ADHD.
Children with AuDHD may have social communication differences, challenges with attention and executive function, hyperactivity and impulsivity, strong interests, or difficulty with regulating their emotions.
Experts haven’t identified a single cause for AuDHD, but genetics or differences in brain development could be factors.
There is no single test for AuDHD. It’s diagnosed using autism and ADHD evaluations.
Speech therapy and occupational therapy can greatly support children who have AuDHD.
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Screener for childrenWhat is AuDHD?
AuDHD is an informal term that combines the words “autism” and “ADHD.” It's used to describe people who have been diagnosed with both conditions.
Research shows that autism and ADHD often occur together. For example, a meta-analysis of more than 50 studies showed that among people with autism, around 40% also had ADHD.
It’s important to know that AuDHD isn’t included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the reference book used to define mental health and brain-related conditions. “However, although AuDHD is not an official medical diagnosis, it's now a widely used term among healthcare providers and the autism and ADHD communities,” explains Alexis Irazoque, M.S., L/SLP, a speech therapist with Expressable.
Although AuDHD is not an official medical diagnosis, it's a widely used term among healthcare providers and the autism and ADHD communities.
Both autism and ADHD are neurodevelopmental conditions, meaning they affect how the brain develops and processes information. Autistic and ADHD brains are sometimes referred to as being neurodivergent. They work differently than what society considers “normal” or typical. Neurodivergent people may have differences in how they communicate, learn, behave, or interact socially with others. While autism and ADHD share some similarities, each condition has unique characteristics. When a child has both, the traits can interact in ways that look different from having either condition alone.
For example:
A child with autism may prefer routines and predictability.
A child with ADHD may have difficulty sticking to routines.
A child with AuDHD may crave structured routines but also struggle to follow them because of attention and executive functioning challenges.
This combination can sometimes make AuDHD harder to recognize, especially in young children. It’s also common that when a child receives one diagnosis, their symptoms are believed to belong to that diagnosis. The possibility of another diagnosis isn’t always explored.
It is important for professionals to assess whether other conditions could be present. Children (and adults) can both be autistic and have ADHD. So if signs of both conditions are present, an evaluation is recommended.
Learn how to communicate and connect with neurodivergent kids, plus practical, neurodiversity-affirming strategies to support your child’s needs.
AuDHD symptoms
Because AuDHD combines features of both autism and ADHD, symptoms can vary widely from child to child. “No two autistic children present the same way, nor do two children with ADHD. The same is true for AuDHD,” notes Irazoque.
Some common signs of AuDHD include:
Social communication differences
Kids with AuDHD may have differences in how they communicate with other people, such as:
Difficulty starting or maintaining conversations
Difficulty noticing social cues like facial expressions or tone of voice
Prefer playing by themselves
Attention and executive functioning challenges
Many children with AuDHD have a hard time:
Staying focused
Following directions with several steps
Organizing tasks they need to get done
Remembering instructions someone tells them
Transitioning smoothly from one activity to another
Strong executive function skills help your child succeed in school. Find easy ways to help your child plan, organize, and stay focused.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity
Some children may:
Constantly move or fidget
Interrupt others
Act before thinking it through
Have a hard time waiting their turn
Sensory differences
Children with AuDHD may be unusually sensitive, or less sensitive, to sensory input. For example, they may:
Cover their ears during loud noises
Refuse to wear certain clothing because it feels uncomfortable
Seek spinning, jumping, or crashing activities
Become overwhelmed in busy places
Strong interests and routines
Some children may:
Be deeply interested in specific topics
Prefer predictable schedules
Feel upset if their routine changes unexpectedly
Emotional regulation difficulties
Children with AuDHD may experience:
Big emotional reactions
Frustration with unexpected changes
Difficulty calming down
Lots of meltdowns
Remember that not every child will have all of these signs. The symptoms can also change as children grow and develop, or are involved in new activities at school or with new social groups.
AuDHD vs. ADHD: What's the difference?
Parents often wonder what’s different between ADHD and AuDHD. While there can be overlap, there are important distinctions.
Children with ADHD mainly have challenges with:
Hyperactivity
Impulsivity
Organization and planning
Self-control
Children with AuDHD may have some of the challenges above, along with:
Differences in social communication
Repetitive behaviors
Restricted interests
Sensory processing issues
Preference for routines
Because children with AuDHD are both autistic and have ADHD, you will see characteristics of both conditions. If your child is impulsive or has a hard time paying attention, but also has some social communication or behavior differences, it’s worth looking into whether autism may be present along with ADHD.
Let’s walk through an example. Sam is a child who has a strong interest in dinosaurs (intense interests are common in autism.) He often interrupts conversations because he struggles with impulse control (common in ADHD.) He loves predictable routines but forgets important steps because he struggles with attention. Sam tends to become overwhelmed by loud sounds, but he seeks out movement and is constantly fidgeting.
You can see characteristics of both autism and ADHD in the example above. For some kids, autism traits may be more noticeable, and in others it might be ADHD traits. The key is that trained professionals should evaluate the whole child, so that no opportunity to assess for any co-occurring diagnoses is missed.
Find out how to calm a dysregulated child, help a child with big emotions, and teach your child emotional regulation skills.
What causes AuDHD?
Researchers don't believe there's a single cause of AuDHD. Like autism and ADHD individually, AuDHD appears to likely result from a combination of things like:
Genetics
Differences in early brain development
Environmental factors that influence development before birth
Having a family member with autism or ADHD may increase the likelihood that another family member has one or both conditions. But genetics are only part of the picture.
How Is AuDHD tested and diagnosed?
It’s important to know that there isn't one single AuDHD test. Keep in mind that AuDHD is not a formal diagnosis. Instead, healthcare professionals evaluate whether a child meets the criteria for both autism and ADHD.
A comprehensive evaluation often includes:
Parent interviews
Developmental history
Medical history
Behavior questionnaires
Direct observation
Standardized autism assessments
ADHD rating scales
Input from teachers or childcare providers, when appropriate
Depending on your child's age and their needs, the evaluation may involve professionals such as:
A developmental pediatrician
A psychologist or neuropsychologist
A neurologist
A psychiatrist
Other specialists with expertise in neurodevelopmental conditions
Because symptoms overlap, it can take time to identify both conditions. Some children are diagnosed with one condition first and receive the second diagnosis later, as new challenges or symptoms come up. For example, a preschooler might be diagnosed as autistic. As they get older, they may have trouble focusing in class, so an ADHD evaluation might then be done.
These diagnoses help families understand why their child has certain challenges or differences. This can help guide recommendations for therapy, school supports, and other interventions as needed.
Speech therapy helps autistic children who are nonspeaking, along with those who do communicate verbally but need support with speech and language.
How speech therapy can help children with AuDHD
Speech-language pathologists, also known as speech therapists, support the communication skills that may be affected by autism and ADHD. Irazoque says, “A speech therapist can be a huge support to both a child with AuDHD and to their family as they learn how to help their child learn and grow.”
Speech therapy for a child with AuDHD may target:
Understanding and using language (receptive and expressive language)
Starting, maintaining, and taking turns during conversation
Understanding nonverbal communication, such as body language and facial expressions
Understanding another person’s perspective
Asking and answering questions
Following directions
Social problem-solving skills
Executive functioning strategies such as organization or planning
For example, a speech therapist might help a child learn to stay on topic during conversations, recognize when someone else wants a turn to speak, or remember multi-step directions spoken to them.
Speech therapy builds on each child's strengths and works toward goals that are personalized to them.
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Get startedHow occupational therapy can help children with AuDHD
Occupational therapists (OTs) help children develop the everyday skills they need for home, school, and play. This can be a particularly important therapy for kids with AuDHD.
Depending on the child's needs, occupational therapy may focus on:
Self-care skills like dressing or feeding
Attention during daily routines
Transitioning between activities
Organization and planning
For example, an OT might help a child with AuDHD know when they're becoming overwhelmed and use strategies to calm themselves. Another child might work on tolerating different clothing textures or improving fine motor skills needed in the classroom.
Occupational therapy for ADHD helps children build focus, routines, emotional regulation, and independence. Learn how therapy works.
Supporting a child with AuDHD
Children with AuDHD often have incredible creativity, curiosity, and unique ways of thinking. Understanding how autism and ADHD interact can help families better support their child's needs and interests.
Early identification and support, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, and accommodations at school, can help kids build the skills they need for everyday life while celebrating their strengths.
Every child with AuDHD is different, and the best support plans are tailored to each child. You are your child’s biggest support and cheerleader! If you think your child may have AuDHD, don’t hesitate to talk to your pediatrician.
If your child needs speech therapy or occupational therapy, Expressable is here to help. Get matched with a speech therapist or occupational therapist who’s right for your family today.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
AuDHD is an informal term used to describe someone who is autistic and has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While it isn't an official medical diagnosis, it's commonly used to describe the co-occurrence of both conditions. Many professionals and those in the autism and ADHD communities use this term.
Yes. Although AuDHD isn't an official diagnosis in the DSM-5, it's a widely recognized term used to describe people who are diagnosed as both autistic and having ADHD. Research has shown that these conditions often occur together. Children are best supported when professionals look at the whole picture of their development and assess for both diagnoses.
There isn't a single AuDHD test. Instead, healthcare professionals complete a comprehensive evaluation that includes developmental history, interviews, observations, standardized assessments, and behavior rating scales to determine whether a child meets the criteria for both autism and ADHD. If you think your child might be autistic or have ADHD, talk to their pediatrician. They can help set up the right evaluations.
ADHD primarily affects attention, impulse control, and executive functioning. AuDHD includes ADHD characteristics along with autism-related differences in social communication, sensory processing, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Because both conditions are present, children with AuDHD often have a more complex combination of strengths and challenges than children with ADHD alone.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
