Is ADHD on the Autism Spectrum? Clearing Up the Confusion

When my therapist suggested that I might have ADHD, I couldn’t get home to start Googling fast enough. I was in my early 30s, and at the time, I was unaware of how ADHD manifests in adult women. But because I wasn’t hyperactive, I was skeptical of my therapist’s conclusion and wanted to do my own homework. 

‍

As I was researching, I noticed that many of the signs of ADHD and autism appear very similar, like hyperfocus and niche interests, sensory sensitivities, and difficulty with executive function. I experienced each of these, and wondered if it was possible that I actually had autism, or perhaps autism and ADHD—known colloquially as AuDHD.

‍

When I had a formal evaluation, my psychiatrist determined that I did, in fact, have ADHD, but not autism. Autism and ADHD are both neurodevelopmental differences under the umbrella of "neurodivergence" and not on the same spectrum. But, given the ADHD and autism overlap in certain ways, and my resulting confusion, I wondered about the nuances of my ADHD assessment results and how it compared to an autism diagnosis.

‍

In this article, we'll explain the overlaps between autism and ADHD, while emphasizing that they are both unique.

‍

Although ADHD and autism are both neurodevelopmental differences, ADHD is not considered to be part of the autism spectrum, says Dr. Kelly Whaling, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and medical reviewer at Prosper Health. 

‍

Both ADHD and autism are classified under the broader umbrella of “Neurodevelopmental Disorders” section in the DSM-5 though they have different diagnostic criteria and are two distinct diagnoses, not subtypes of each other. 

‍

These conditions fall under the neurodevelopmental category because they originate in differences in brain development, affect functioning across multiple life domains, and are typically identified in childhood (but can be identified later if missed in childhood), Dr. Whaling explains.

‍

The term "autism spectrum" is often misunderstood as a severity scale ranging from "a little autistic" to "very autistic." However, this interpretation is inaccurate. “The autism spectrum refers to the wide variability in how autism presents across individuals, including differences in sensory experiences, communication styles, support needs, co-occurring conditions, and many other characteristics,” Dr. Whaling explains.

‍

Autism can look very different from one person to the next. Some autistic individuals are highly expressive in oral language, while others may communicate in alternative ways. “It is shaped by temperament, environment, identity, and life experience,” says Stephanie Steele-Wren, PsyD, a licensed psychologist specializing in adult autism.

‍

One adult may struggle most with sensory overload, another with social fatigue. “The spectrum is not about ranking people,” she says. “It’s just a way of saying there is no single way to be autistic.”

‍

Though ADHD and autism share some genetic and neural features, ADHD is not on the autism spectrum: it has its own separate diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5. Similarly, autism is not a type of ADHD. “Although autism and ADHD share some overlapping traits and frequently occur together, one is not a version of the other,” Dr. Whaling says. “They are, at this time, currently thought of as different neurodevelopmental conditions with distinct diagnostic criteria and underlying mechanisms.”

Because ADHD and autism are neurodevelopmental conditions with overlapping traits, telling them apart can be confusing—especially because it’s possible to have both conditions (AUDHD). In fact, according to the scientific literature, 40-50% of autistic people also have ADHD.

‍

Overlapping traits

‍

Although ADHD and autism are two separate diagnoses, they do share some of the same traits. These are:

‍

• Attention Differences: This includes both inattention, distractability, and hyperfocus, which vary depending on the person and circumstance. 

• Executive dysfunction and cognitive differences: Challenges with planning, organization, memory, and task initiation are common in both ADHD and autism. These differences can impact daily life without appropriate supports.

• Social differences: Socializing with others often looks different for ADHD and autistic people compared to neurotypical people. It can sometimes cause challenges, but these differences are valid ways of relating to others.

• Camouflaging: Masking is a way of consciously or unconsciously hiding neurodivergent traits to fit social expectations.

• Sensory sensitivities: Hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sound, touch, light, smell, or taste that can significantly affect daily functioning.

• Hyperfocus and special interests: Can involve deep, sustained engagement with a particular topic or activity and can represent both strengths and challenges.

• Emotional dysregulation and emotional intensity: Differences in connectivity between brain regions—along with broader executive function networks and dopamine-related regulation systems—can make emotional regulation more challenging.

‍

‍

A shift in diagnostic guidelines

‍

Under the DSM-4 (1994) and DSM-4-TR (2000), clinicians were not permitted to diagnose autism and ADHD in the same individual, even when both sets of traits were clearly present.

‍

“In practice, this meant that once someone was diagnosed with autism, clinicians were expected to attribute attention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity differences to autism rather than recognizing ADHD as a co-occurring condition,” Dr. Whaling explains. “As a result, ADHD traits in autistic people were frequently overlooked or absorbed into the autism diagnosis, and some individuals missed out on supports that might have helped them better understand and work with their attention patterns.” 

‍

Over time, research increasingly showed that autism and ADHD co-occur at high rates, that many individuals meaningfully fit criteria for both, and that not all signs of one were explained fully by the other, she notes. 

‍

This changed in 2013, when, in response to this growing body of evidence, the DSM-5 removed the exclusion rule and formally allowed co-occurring diagnoses of autism and ADHD. “This change represented an important shift toward a more accurate and compassionate understanding of neurodevelopment,” Dr. Whaling says.

‍

The rise of AuDHD identity

‍

“AuDHD” is an informal term many adults use when they are formally diagnosed, or self-diagnose with both autism and ADHD. They come to it when neither ADHD nor autism alone fully explains their experience.

‍

“People say, ‘ADHD fits, but something is missing,’” Dr. Steele-Wren says. “Or, ‘autism fits, but not all the way.’ AuDHD gives language to that blended experience, which has become more common as more adults are learning what ADHD and autism can actually look like beyond childhood stereotypes,”

‍

Changing conversations around neurodiversity

‍

At the same time, there has been a broader shift in how neurodevelopmental differences are understood. “

‍

The neurodiversity movement reframes conditions like autism and ADHD not only as medical diagnoses, but also as forms of neurological variation that can shape identity, culture, and community,” Dr. Whaling says. “This perspective emphasizes self-advocacy and the idea that neurodivergent people should have a central role in describing their own experiences and choosing the language used to talk about them.” 

‍

Another major driver has been the formation of the disability community. Over the past several years, people have shared personal experiences of having both autism and ADHD through blogs, social media, podcasts, and educational platforms. “In these spaces, the term ‘AuDHD’ emerged as a shorthand for the intersection of both neurotypes and for the unique internal tensions people sometimes experience when traits associated with each interact—for example, needing routine while also craving novelty,” Dr. Whaling says. 

‍

‍

ADHD and autism are diagnosed by different core patterns, even though they can overlap quite a bit in real life. “This distinction matters, especially when adults are trying to understand why one label fits part of their experience but not the whole thing,” Dr. Steele-Wren says. 

‍

Both ADHD and autism are considered neurodevelopmental conditions, meaning they reflect natural variations in how the brain develops and processes information, Dr. Whaling explains. While they can share some overlapping traits, the diagnostic criteria focus on different core patterns of experience.

‍

‍

These are just a few of the more distinct traits of each condition: 

‍

ADHD

• Differences in sustaining attention
• Impulsivity
• Hyperactivity or restlessness
• Differences with organization and time management
• Tendency to seek novelty or stimulation

Autism

• Differences in social communication and interaction
• Preference for predictability or routine
• Deep or highly focused interests
• Sensory processing differences
• Tendency toward literal or detail-focused processing
  

‍

These criteria don’t need to explain every aspect of an individual. Instead, they provide clinicians a shared framework, a way to name patterns consistently, and decide what type of support is most appropriate. “People don’t generally fit into one box very neatly, and in my work, I see that all the time, but understanding where those boundaries sit can still be incredibly helpful for making sense of the bigger picture,” Dr. Steele-Wren says.

Many adults feel like ADHD explains productivity and attention issues, but it does not explain the whole pattern. People start to wonder what else might be going on, especially when social differences feel lifelong or sensory differences feel especially strong, Dr. Steele-Wren explains.

But relating to both ADHD and autism doesn’t automatically mean you have both conditions. “It just means it’s worth looking at the full story over time: What has always been there, what shows up across settings, what changes when attention is supported, what does not,” she says.

‍

It’s also important to remember: traits associated with ADHD and autism are human traits. Everyone can experience things like distraction, deep focus, sensory sensitivity, or social differences at times. What matters is the pattern, intensity, and how consistently these experiences show up across your life.

‍

That is where a neurodiversity-affirming assessment, like the ones Prosper Health offers, can really help. “Not to force someone into a box, but to get clarity and figure out what kind of support actually fits,” she notes.

ADHD and autism are two separate diagnoses. In other words, ADHD is not on the autism spectrum. That said, the two conditions have several overlapping traits, including executive dysfunction, sensory sensitivities, social differences, and hyperfocus. Yet, prior to 2013, clinicians weren’t permitted to diagnose someone with both ADHD and autism, which is known informally as “AuDHD.”

‍

How Prosper Health can help

‍

If aspects of both conditions home, you may want to find a neurodiversity-affirming professional who understands both adult autism and ADHD—like the ones at Prosper Health—and make an appointment to be officially diagnosed. Prosper Health can guide you through your diagnostic journey via telehealth autism assessments from providers who specialize in working with autistic adults.

‍

Therapy and diagnosis with Prosper Health is 100% virtual and is covered by insurance in most cases. If you’re ready to get started, get in touch to be connected with a neurodiversity-affirming clinician within days. 

Is autism a form of ADHD?

No, autism is not a form of ADHD—nor is ADHD on the autism spectrum. ADHD and autism are two completely separate conditions, though it’s possible to be diagnosed with both. 

‍

Can you have ADHD and autism?

Yes, it is possible to be diagnosed with both ADHD and autism. This is known informally as “AuDHD.” But just because you are diagnosed with one condition, it doesn’t automatically mean you have the other.

‍

Can autism be mistaken for ADHD?

Yes, absolutely. “Sensory overload can look like distraction,” Dr. Steele-Wren says. “Shutdown can look like disengagement. Social communication differences can get mistaken for inattention or lack of interest.” With adults, especially, it takes looking at the whole pattern to understand what is really going on.

‍