ADHD in Autistic Adults: A Life Ruled by auDHD

A contemporary look at how ADHD shows up in autistic individuals—through the lens of science, personal experience, and lived reality.

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What is ADHD?

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by ongoing difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It’s typically grouped into three presentations:

• Inattentive

• Hyperactive-impulsive

• Combined

These traits can impact all areas of life—from getting through the day at work, to regulating emotions in relationships. While often associated with kids, ADHD persists into adulthood and is frequently missed—especially in people who mask well or don’t fit the outdated stereotypes.

“Sometimes I wonder how I made it this far, undiagnosed, always doing 100 things at once while forgetting the one thing that actually mattered.” — Troy

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ADHD and Autism: A Common But Complex Co-occurrence

It’s now widely accepted that ADHD and autism commonly co-occur. They were once seen as mutually exclusive, but that thinking has shifted significantly. Today, many clinicians and researchers recognise that when the two conditions coexist, they can create a unique neurotype—often referred to in the community as AuDHD.

Shared Traits Often Include:

• Sensory sensitivities

• Emotional regulation challenges

• Executive functioning difficulties

• Social communication differences

This overlap can make diagnosis tricky and sometimes lead to mislabelling. But when properly understood, it paves the way for far more effective and compassionate support.

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Executive Functioning in Autistic Adults with ADHD

Executive functioning refers to the mental skills that help us organise, plan, initiate, and complete tasks. When ADHD and autism combine, these difficulties often become more pronounced and layered.

Key Challenges:

• Stacked Executive Dysfunction
  

ADHD makes it hard to get started. Autism makes it hard to shift gears. Together, it can feel like a constant internal tug-of-war.

• Task-Specific Motivation

Tasks linked to a special interest might get done with precision and passion, while unrelated ones barely get touched.

“It’s not laziness. It’s like the car starts when the song is right, but most days the radio’s just static.” — Troy

• Inconsistent Follow-Through

There might be a big burst of energy at the start, but finishing becomes a challenge. This isn’t a character flaw—it’s neurological.

• Difficulty Generalising Skills

Many autistic people can master a skill in one context but struggle to apply it in another. It’s not about intelligence—it’s about cognitive transfer.

• Decision-Making Paralysis

Too many choices can feel overwhelming, triggering avoidance or impulsivity—not from apathy, but mental overload.

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Rethinking ADHD Traits Through an Autistic Lens

ADHD traits often present differently in autistic adults—sometimes quietly, sometimes internally, but no less impactful.

Inattention:

• Zoning out during tasks that don’t emotionally engage

• Forgetting key steps or instructions, even when motivated

• Misplacing things regularly (and sometimes inventively)

Hyperactivity:

• Constant inner restlessness rather than visible bouncing off the walls

• Fidgeting, humming, tapping—often mistaken as “disruptive”

• Self-talk or repetitive sounds used for focus and regulation

  
  

Impulsivity:

• Interrupting without meaning to

• Saying things with emotional urgency, then regretting them

• Difficulty resisting urges, especially when emotionally heightened

“I used to think I was just dramatic. Turns out, I was overwhelmed—and no one could see it but me.” — Troy

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What Sets AuDHD Apart?

When ADHD and autism combine, it creates a distinct neurotype that isn’t simply the sum of its parts.

• Hyperfocus & Selective Attention

If it’s interesting, it gets 120% of our attention. If not, it barely registers.

• Sensory Sensitivities

Bright lights, background noise, scratchy clothes—minor sensory input can throw everything off course.

• Literal Interpretation

Language is often taken at face value, making abstract or implied meanings harder to grasp.

• Stimming vs Hyperactivity

Repetitive behaviours like rocking or hand movements help with regulation—but are often misread as fidgeting or acting out.

• Echolalia & Scripted Speech

Quoting TV shows or phrases can be a form of communication, comfort, or emotional expression.

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Emotional and Social Load

Living with AuDHD isn’t just about focus or fidgeting—it’s about navigating a world that often misunderstands how you process, feel, and interact.

• Emotional Intensity

Big feelings come fast and strong, especially in response to injustice, change, or overwhelm.

• Social Timing Difficulties

Struggles with knowing when to speak, what to say, or how to interpret others can lead to social anxiety or withdrawal.

• Burnout and Shutdowns

When the sensory, social, or emotional load becomes too much, the nervous system can crash—sometimes for days.

“Sometimes it feels like the world is asking me to sprint in a language I’ve only just started learning.” — Troy

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Support That Makes a Difference

When support strategies reflect the lived reality of neurodivergent people, the difference is profound.

• Flexible Structure

Routines that provide predictability without becoming rigid are ideal. Too much structure can backfire.

• Visual and Sensory Tools

Checklists, fidget tools, timers, and noise-cancelling headphones aren’t just helpful—they’re often essential.

• Safe Spaces

Quiet, non-judgemental environments allow space for decompression and emotional reset.

• Interest-Based Engagement

Leaning into passions is not just motivating—it can be lifesaving. People thrive when their interests are respected.

“Diversity is what keeps me focused.” — Troy

“My entire life I’ve felt like I was completely misunderstood. What I didn’t realise was that it was me that misunderstood myself the most. No wonder everyone else was confused.” — Troy

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The Modern Vitruvian

Centuries ago, Leonardo da Vinci sketched the Vitruvian Man—a figure suspended within a circle and square, arms outstretched, perfectly proportioned. According to Philosophers its meant to represent balance: the harmony of body and spirit, the ideal human form mapped against geometry and the cosmos.

But what if we’ve misunderstood the message?

For many of us—especially those navigating the world through the lens of neurodivergence and the more unique neurotypes such as auDHD—life rarely feels balanced. Instead, it feels like a tug-of-war from all directions. Like being the figure in the drawing, but with wires instead of lines—pulling at our arms, our thoughts, our energy.

In this light, the Vitruvian image takes on new meaning.

Not a symbol of perfection—but a vessel.

Not symmetry—but survival in motion.

Not stillness—but constant recalibration.

“I am the centre point of all this tension, and yet—I’m learning to thrive in the storm.” — Troy

To be neurodivergent is to live at that intersection: between form and flux, clarity and confusion, chaos and insight. Maybe we were never meant to stand still in the square. Maybe our circles were always supposed to move.

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Final Thoughts

Autistic adults with ADHD often walk a unique and complex path—one marked by misunderstanding, misdiagnosis, and, too often, unmet needs. But with the right language, supports, and insights, the picture becomes clearer.

At the heart of it is executive functioning—but beneath that are layers of resilience, creativity, depth, and brilliance.

When we shift from trying to “fix” people to understanding them, we stop asking how to make them fit in—and start asking how we can help them thrive.