Are you wondering if you’re autistic or ADHD (or both)?
People often tell me they’re beginning to question whether they’re autistic or ADHD – or both.
There’s an enormous overlap, as there is with many other neurodivergences, so it’s important to recognise that everyone’s characteristics and experience will be different and nothing exists in a vacuum.
Until 2013 it wasn’t possible to be diagnosed as both autistic and ADHD (AuDHD). As soon as you were diagnosed with one, that stopped you being diagnosed with the other. This is just one of the many things wrong with the medical model as studies now estimate that around 70% of autistic people are also ADHD, and 50% of ADHDers are also autistic. Other common co-occurring neurodivergences include dyspraxia and dyslexia.
If you’re autistic and ADHD then it can be harder to identify this because characteristics will camouflage one another. For example, you may be well organised so think you can’t possibly be ADHD, or enjoy trying new things and think that means you can’t be autistic.
It’s important to remember that everyone’s characteristics are different. They are impacted by co-occurring conditions and neurodivergences and other intersectionalities. There is no single way of experiencing any neurodivergence and capacity and characteristics will fluctuate throughout life depending on other factors such as age, health, environment, etc.
The medical model is pathologising, deficit-based, and from a neuronormative point of view, but it’s what is currently in use for anyone wanting a formal assessment and diagnosis. Initial screening questionnaires form part of this. (See https://neuroqueer.com/neurodiversity-terms-and-definitions/ for an alternative to the medical model.)
You can find questionnaires for autism at https://embrace-autism.com/autism-tests/ (including one for high maskers) and one for ADHD at https://adhduk.co.uk/adult-adhd-screening-survey/
There’s also a monotropism questionnaire at https://www.facebook.com/share/p/3boLukEeVUr73aTs/
Scoring high on these is not a diagnosis, but they do suggest a likelihood, and may encourage you to do more reading about these neurotypes. Some people choose to pursue a formal diagnosis, while others are happy to self-identify.
Several neurodivergences do not have a formal medical diagnosis pathway so can only be self-identified.
Trauma Geek – Trauma and Neurodiversity Education looks at the pros and cons of an ADHD or autism diagnosis vs self-identification: https://www.facebook.com/TraumaGeek/posts/439982621500075 and the similarities between ADHD and autism: https://www.facebook.com/TraumaGeek/posts/pfbid02hRzBY19s4yNCu3zkUfz8Z5n93fmpXH4XKbPVgcwkEs78AhRGPQdi5MiHfXXCNf1Vl
The University of Washington shares research that autistic self-identification is highly accurate, as well as resources and communities: https://depts.washington.edu/uwautism/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Self-Diagnosed-Adult-Autism-Resources-handout-9-22-22.pdf
Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry of the Autistic Culture Podcast have produced Adult Autism Home Assessment: Our Definitive Guide to Accurate and Affirming Self-Identification: https://autisticculture.lpages.co/book/
AUsome Training‘s free resource pack for adults who think they may be autistic or recognise that they are: https://ausometraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Autistic-Adults-Welcome-Pack-Final-.pdf
Starting your autistic discovery journey with Aucademy – Education for everyone on Autistic experience: https://aucademy.co.uk/starting-your-autistic-discovery-journey/
Reframing Autism‘s welcome pack: https://reframingautism.org.au/service/welcome-pack/
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network‘s Welcome to the Autistic Community book: https://autismacceptance.com/
How to ADHD: https://howtoadhd.com/
Lived Experience Educator’s must read books for your neurodiversity affirming journey
Jade Farrington - Neurodivergent Counsellor and Rewind Trauma Therapist 