AuDHD. “What Traits are Autism and what traits are ADHD?”
- therapistkristina
- May 25
- 2 min read
AuDHD: a processing difference that includes both Autism and ADHD, combined. AuDHD is it’s own processing difference, it is not Autism and ADHD operating parallel. Before one can comprehend AuDHD as its own processing difference, knowing how Autism and ADHD are happening AT THE SAME TIME with AuDHD is required. That initial step is what I am clarifying here.
“What traits are Autism and what traits are ADHD?”
ONE: I get asked this question often by AuDHD clients in therapy and ADHD clients that I test for Autism (who are autistic).
TWO: I see websites, blogs, online conversation, etc… listing autism behaviors &
ADHD behaviors in a person who is AuDHD. The question above and the lists online are incomplete.
AuDHD traits and processing differences are not one or the other.
What I’d like us to be mindful of:
ONE: AuDHD is experienced as an intersection of ADHD and Autism. Lists of separate traits occurring one at a time is limiting, inaccurate and eliminates the distinction of processing differences that is the AuDHD experience. Separation confines an AuDHD person’s self knowledge, and minimizes clinician’s knowledge of AuDHD.
Concepts such as intersection, entanglement, combination, co-occurring, for example are more accurate than separating Autism & ADHD in AuDHD.
TWO: This entanglement type of framework is only effective if you understand both Autism and ADHD FIRST, via their:
processing differences,
the origins (neurology) of those processing differences and
the behaviors and motivations produced by them.
**If your knowledge of Autism and ADHD in this way is limited (for yourself and/or of your clients) find resources to educate yourself. Please.
THREE: Apply this knowledge to AuDHD processing, where each “trait” includes both Autism and ADHD, not one or the other. Here are three common examples:
Hyper Focus on a Preferred Interest has Suddenly Seized.
-ADHD: Dopamine plateaued and then dropped off. Motivation and interest also dropped.
-Autism: Burnout due to neurological demands that became too high to sustain engagement with the interest/activity.
Repetitive Movement such as swiveling in a chair, bouncing leg, tapping a pencil.
-ADHD: dopamine reward, maintain alertness when understimulated.
-Autism: adaptive, produces routine sensation, self-soothing/regulatory.
Attention & Focus:
-ADHD: distraction, forgetfulness.
-Autism: hard time paying attention to non-interested topics, overwhelming sensory content.
.
AuDHD is an entanglement of each processing difference from ADHD and Autism, and combined to create a unique processing difference. Before understanding how the combination of ADHD and Autism produce a unique processing difference, we must understand that ADHD and Autism are happening AT THE SAME TIME, not one at a time.
I hope this was helpful, thanks for reading. Let’s ensure that AuDHD folx are recognized for their own unique processing differences, and are not minimized. Take this first step, then imagine how the combination of ADHD and Autism are creating a unique processing difference within each “trait”. And, beyond imagining, ask generative questions to AuDHD to know how they are processing.
Contact me for therapy, autism evaluations, consultations for clinicians!
Comments