AuDHD describes the co-occurrence of Autism and ADHD. Many adults with this neurotype have spent years feeling like they “almost” fit multiple explanations—but never fully fit any single one.

You do not need to identify with everything below.

Conflicting Internal Needs (The Push-Pull)

• Craving structure, routine, and predictability but struggling to maintain them

• Feeling calmer with plans but resisting them once they exist

• Wanting novelty and stimulation but becoming overwhelmed by too much input

• Needing control and freedom at the same time (annoying, we know)

Inconsistent Functioning

• Periods of intense productivity followed by crashes or burnout

• Being capable of exceptional focus some days and unable to function on others

• Others seeing your inconsistency as laziness or lack of effort (it’s not)

• Feeling unreliable despite trying very hard

Masking, Identity & Exhaustion

• High levels of masking to appear competent, calm, or “together”

• Feeling like you’re constantly translating yourself for others

• Being told you’re “too much” and “not enough” in different contexts

• Not knowing which struggles are “real” versus self-criticism

• Feeling deeply exhausted by simply existing in the world

Sensory & Attention Overlap

• Sensory sensitivities that worsen distractibility

• Difficulty focusing due to noise, light, textures, or visual clutter

• Becoming irritable, shut down, or scattered when overstimulated

• Using movement, fidgeting, or sensory input to regulate attention

• Feeling both under-stimulated and overwhelmed at the same time

Executive Functioning Whiplash

• Difficulty starting tasks even when structure would help

• Trouble with time awareness, planning, prioritizing, and transitions

• Hyperfocus on interests while neglecting basic needs

• Knowing what to do but being unable to execute consistently

• Feeling overwhelmed by both chaos and rigidity

Communication & Social Experience

• Deep desire for authentic connection but difficulty maintaining relationships

• Preferring direct communication while also missing social cues

• Talking a lot when passionate and going quiet when overwhelmed

• Replaying conversations, worrying about tone, delivery, or mistakes

• Feeling misunderstood even when you explain yourself clearly

Interests, Focus & Passion

• Intense, immersive interests that provide joy and regulation

• Cycling through interests—deep engagement followed by sudden loss of interest

• Hyperfocus that feels grounding but can disrupt sleep or responsibilities

• Feeling most alive when learning, researching, or creating

• Using interests to self-soothe, escape, or find meaning

Emotional Regulation & Nervous System

• Strong emotional reactions that feel hard to control

• Sensitivity to rejection, criticism, or perceived disapproval

• Rapid frustration, shutdown, or emotional overwhelm

• Difficulty identifying or describing emotions (alexithymia)

• Longstanding anxiety, depression, or trauma symptoms that don’t explain everything

Developmental & Lifelong Patterns

• Feeling “different” for as long as you can remember

• Being labeled smart, sensitive, gifted, disorganized, intense, or scattered

• Doing well academically but struggling with daily functioning

• Symptoms becoming more impairing with increased adult responsibilities

• A history of burnout, misdiagnosis, or feeling like support never quite fits

• A history of coping through substances, food, restriction, self-harm, or other behaviors that were attempts to regulate overwhelm, distress, or sensory/emotional pain.

Important Note:

AuDHD is not “severe ADHD” or “mild autism.” It is a distinct neurotype with its own patterns, strengths, and support needs.

If this list feels uncomfortably accurate and your experiences feel lifelong, pervasive, and exhausting to manage, a comprehensive AuDHD evaluation may provide clarity, validation, and a framework that finally makes sense.

ADHD and Autism are developmental neurotypes that frequently co-occur. Although twin studies suggest that there are shared genetic influences that lead to both, researchers have yet to find a clearly identifiable biological reason for these to exist together. Nonetheless, the overlap is significant: While approximately 10% of the population has ADHD neurotype, some research has shown that 40-70% of Autistic people have ADHD! Conversely, 20-50% of those with ADHD are also Autistic.

Often times Autistic people with ADHD have greater difficulty functioning in a world created for neurotypical brains. Sensory issues combined with executive dysfunction can make many daily tasks challenging. ADHD and Autism share common characteristics, including inattention, atypical movement (such as fidgeting or stimming), differences in learning style, and differences with social interactions. Both Autistic people and those with ADHD can experience sensory issues as well. Due to this symptom overlap, Autistic individuals who also have ADHD might have more difficulty receiving an accurate identification. Even though an Autistic person is more likely to have ADHD than someone who is not Autistic, and someone with ADHD is more likely to be Autistic than someone who does not have ADHD, professionals often only assess for one condition at a time. Clarity around identifications and whether someone meets the criteria for both is crucial. From an identity standpoint, it's essential for individuals to have a clear understanding of themselves.

There are important distinctions between Autistic and ADHD experiences. Recognizing potentially conflicting internal urges, such as hyperfocus on a single task for extended periods versus rapidly shifting attention between tasks, is not only vital for developing a strong sense of identity but also critical for managing self-regulation and identifying effective support strategies. At Heal ATL we also offer a dual evaluation for both ADHD and Autism in an effort to accurately understand the full clinical picture of your challenges.

Sources for Statistics: Hours C, Recasens C, Baleyte JM. ASD and ADHD comorbidity: what are we talking about?  Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:837424.

Rusting R. Decoding the overlap between autism and ADHD. Spectrum. Published online 2018.

1. Brief Phone Consultation with Brittany (Optional): Discuss your assessment goals, provide some basic background information, and ask any questions you may have about the assessment process. This is a free, no-obligation consultation.

2. Schedule Interview and Payment: Choose the interview date and time that works best for you on our online portal, electronically complete the required legal documents, biopsychosocial history, and make your payment online.

3. Online Assessments: You will be sent links to all of the required electronic assessments such as the QbCheck, CAARS-2, and the SRS-2 among others. All legal forms and empirically validated measures must be completed prior to the clinical interview.​​​​​​​ (For adolescents, some assessments will need to be completed by the teen, while others will need to be completed by a parent or guardian.)

4. Clinical Interview: Meet with Brittany via telehealth for a 90-120 minute clinical interview.

5. Results and Report: Provider interprets and integrates the data from the empirically validated assessment measures, biopsychosocial history, and clinical interview. Written reports are available within 2-3 days of completing the clinical interview.

6. (Optional) Feedback Session: Schedule 50-minute follow-up session with Brittany to discuss the findings, recommendations, available supports, and your experience with the assessment and results.

Our fees are straightforward and transparent. Payment is due in full prior to the clinical interview. Please note: Heal ATL is considered an out-of-network provider with all insurance plans.

We offer 2 options and invite you to choose what meets your needs.

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Assessment and Formal Report: $1500

Includes: all electronic questionnaires and testing, HIPAA-compliant video conference clinical interview with your provider, and formal written report (60+ pages) that details your behavioral and sensory profile and summary of findings of the evaluation. Report will also offer customized recommendations for accommodations for work/school, strategies to help manage AuDHD challenges effectively, and documentation for medication management with a psychiatrist to assist you in your daily life.

Assessment and Formal Report and Feedback Session: $1500 + $225

Includes: electronic questionnaires and testing, video conference clinical interview with your provider, formal written report that details the findings of the evaluation, and 50-minute follow-up session with your provider to discuss the findings, recommendations, available supports, and your experience with the process and results.

At Heal ATL, we want to eliminate the barrier of long wait times and wait lists for assessments. We deliver results quickly. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Consultation call with the Brittany (optional) - Typically within one week of your inquiry. Use our online portal to schedule a time that works best for you. Or if you don't have any questions, you can go ahead and schedule your interview from the same link!

2. Clinical Interview with Brittany - Typically within 1-3 weeks of your consultation. You will just want to make sure you allow enough time to be able to complete your paperwork and online assessments prior to the interview.

3. ​​​​​​​Written report - We try to have your report back to you within 1 week of completing the clinical interview.

4. Follow-up services - Can be scheduled any time following completing your interview and receiving your report.

Psychologists certainly offer testing for ADHD and Autism. Currently, however, there are relatively few clinicians who specialize in evaluating and treating adults. We also hear from clients how stressful and traumatizing the outdated traditional ways of assessing autism can be for Autistic adults, with no real understanding of the neurodivergent experience, even when conducted by well-meaning professionals. It is also important to know that there are currently no standardized tests to assess if an adult is Autistic or ADHD that are fit for purpose or reliable; that is, there is no ‘gold standard’ tests to identify Autistic or ADHD adults. Assessments can help guide our clinical thinking, but are no substitute for thoughtful exploration with the neurodivergent person. Other barriers are significant costs associated with a formal evaluation with a psychologist or psychiatrist, incredibly long time commitments to reach a diagnosis, and long waits to even get an appointment.

Whoever you choose for your evaluation, you should make sure they are neurodivergent-affirming and are trained in assessing adult ADHD and Autism. Ask questions. Make sure they are not using outdated assessment tools created for children as this can often lead to invalidating and sometimes traumatic experiences. The organization CHADD recommends, "Many times the professional’s level of knowledge and expertise about adult ADHD is more important for obtaining an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan than the type of professional degree." The authors of "The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook: A Neurodiversity-Affirmative Approach" also suggest “not having a neurodivergent team member is a distinct disadvantage to any service that proposes to serve the Autistic community.” They suggest that it is highly recommended to have an assessor who is neurodivergent to help understand your experience.

*Please note that Heal ATL does not provide neuropsychological testing. If your assessment results find that neuropsychological or learning disabilities testing may be needed, you will be referred for those services to the appropriate professional. Cognitive or intelligence testing is not required for ADHD or Autism evaluation unless you present with intellectual difficulties.

Brittany Hewitt, MA, LPC, CPCS, ACS, BC-TMH is currently offering Autism and ADHD evaluations to adults and adolescents ages 16+. She is both Autistic and ADHD neurotypes, a psychotherapist with over a decade of experience treating these populations, an ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider, and a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist. Book a free 15-minute consultation with Brittany to answer any questions you may have about Autism or ADHD evaluations.