If you have been reading about ADHD and autism, you may recognise parts of your experience in both descriptions. Perhaps one diagnosis has already been discussed, but you still have questions about communication, routines or sensory experiences. The useful next step is to describe those experiences in context and consider what help you need. This article explains how the two can coexist, why assessment looks beyond shared features, and how to prepare for a conversation about support.
At a glance
- An autistic person can also have ADHD; one does not automatically explain every difficulty.
- Similar experiences are reasons to explore the wider picture, not evidence of a diagnosis on their own.
- Support should reflect the individual's priorities, communication and sensory needs.
What are autism and ADHD?
Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference: it relates to how the brain develops and how someone experiences the world. It can influence communication, learning and responses to sensory information. It is lifelong and is not an illness that needs a cure. Autistic people can also have ADHD. Autism is not the same as a learning disability: some autistic people have a learning disability and others do not.1
ADHD involves difficulties with attention, activity levels or impulse control. The pattern and effects across daily life matter when it is assessed.2
You do not have to decide which description accounts for each experience before seeking advice. You can begin with a question such as: “This is what happens in my day; what would help us understand it?”
Why familiar experiences need context
Autistic adults may find aspects of social communication difficult, have strong interests, prefer fixed ways of doing things or become distressed by changes to routine. Sensory differences can include being more or less sensitive to light, sound, smell, taste or texture.3
Consider a busy meeting as an illustrative situation. Someone might want to discuss the noise, difficulty following conversation, uncertainty about what is expected, or what happens when the agenda changes. Simply saying “meetings are difficult” leaves many questions unanswered. Describe the part you find difficult, what happens before and afterwards, and whether a quieter or more clearly structured situation feels different.
These examples are prompts for explaining experience, not a way to distinguish autism from ADHD. A clinician needs the wider history and context rather than a single shared feature.
Why differences may not always be obvious
Some autistic adults adapt their behaviour so that signs are less visible, often called masking. The NHS notes that this can make social situations exhausting or stressful, and that other conditions, including ADHD, can make autism harder to recognise.3
When describing your own experience, you could include both what another person sees and what the situation involves for you. For example: “I can take part in the conversation, but I would like to explain the preparation involved and how I feel afterwards.” Use this only if it reflects your experience. Describe what you want help with in the language that feels comfortable to you.
What should an assessment consider?
NICE recommends considering early development, features from childhood into adulthood, everyday functioning, sensory experiences and physical and mental health during an adult autism assessment. Other neurodevelopmental conditions and alternative or coexisting explanations also need consideration.4
Adult assessment may include discussion of early and current life, questionnaires, information from someone who knows you and relevant records. A GP can explain local assessment options.5
If you already have an ADHD diagnosis, you could bring the questions that remain unanswered rather than assume everything must be reconsidered at once. For example, ask whether a particular sensory or communication difficulty needs further exploration and which professional or service would be appropriate. Confirm what the service you contact actually assesses; information about autism here does not establish that an ADHD appointment includes an autism assessment.
Think about support as well as diagnosis
Autistic people have different support needs. Some live independently; others need substantial ongoing care. Needs may change between situations and over time. The NHS describes possible support with health, appointments, education and work.6
NICE also recommends considering the environment in which assessment and care take place. Relevant adjustments may involve lighting, noise and personal space; changes to pacing or breaks may be considered when the environment cannot be adapted.4
A practical starting point is to choose one situation you would like to make easier. For an appointment, that might mean asking for written information, explaining that background noise is difficult, or discussing time to process a question. Tell the service what you need and ask what can be arranged. The aim of the conversation is to identify useful support for you, rather than assume everyone with the same diagnosis needs the same adjustment.
A short way to prepare your thoughts
You could make three headings: “What I notice”, “When it happens” and “What I would like help with”. Under each, write a few examples from different parts of your life. Keep observations separate from your interpretation of them.
For instance, “I leave the room when several people speak at once” describes an event. “This must mean I am autistic” is an interpretation that needs further discussion. You could add how long this has happened, whether it changes with the setting and what you want to be able to do more comfortably.
Also include preferences and things that work well. You might find it easier to explain yourself in writing, want a trusted person involved, or prefer some topics to be discussed privately. Raise those preferences with the service. Keep uncertainty visible in your notes, especially when you are recalling childhood.
Questions to discuss with a healthcare professional
- What further information would help explain these experiences?
- Could there be more than one condition or support need to consider?
- Does this service assess autism, ADHD, or something else?
- What communication or sensory adjustments could help me take part?
- What help might be available while these questions are being explored?
- How will we discuss the findings and decide what happens next?
Frequently asked questions
Can someone be autistic and have ADHD?
Yes. The NHS identifies ADHD as a condition that can occur in autistic people. Having one diagnosis does not automatically establish the other; ask about any experiences that you feel have not been understood.1
Does needing routine, or disliking noise, mean I am autistic?
A single feature does not establish autism. NICE describes a comprehensive assessment that looks at development, functioning and possible alternative explanations. Explain your experience and its effects rather than treating an individual preference as a diagnosis.4
Will an autism assessment use childhood information?
It may include early-life questions, another person's account and documents such as school reports. Ask the assessment team what would be useful, and tell them what is unavailable or uncertain.5
Do all autistic adults need the same support?
No. Needs vary and can change with circumstances. You could discuss one priority at a time, explain what already helps and ask how any support can be reviewed as your situation changes.6
Where can I ask about help?
The NHS lists GPs, local autism teams, councils, education settings, workplaces and local support services as possible starting points. Ask which options fit your particular needs and what their access arrangements are.7
References
- NHS. What is autism?. Back to text ↑
- NHS Inform (NHS 24). ADHD in adults. Back to text ↑
- NHS. Signs of autism in adults. Back to text ↑
- NICE. Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management (CG142), recommendations, particularly 1.1.8, 1.2.7 and 1.2.10. Back to text ↑
- NHS. Autism assessments. Back to text ↑
- NHS. Autism and adult life. Back to text ↑
- NHS. Help and support for autistic people and their families. Back to text ↑
