The similarities and differences between autism and ADHD

Many of our multiply-neurodivergent clients come to us with questions about how to differentiate their autism traits and ADHD traits. It can be confusing for them to clearly understand both the overlap and the differences between autism and ADHD, as the lived AuDHD experience is multifaceted. Prior to 2012, a person could not even be diagnosed with co-occurring autism and ADHD under previous versions of the DSM.

Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AuDHD) are characterized by differences in an individual’s brain development and function. People with either brainstyle deserve the proper support and tools to help them succeed. That’s not always possible if they’re always being misdiagnosed or confused for each other, which is especially common when they are working with unspecialized providers. It’s important to note how autism and ADHD are different in some ways to ensure that a person can get care that addresses their neurotype holistically, rather than experiencing an unintegrated approach to care. That’s what we’re here to explain.

Read on to learn the basics about both autism and ADHD. Then we’ll dive into their similarities and differences to gain a better insight for a potential AuDHD diagnosis.

The basics of autism and ADHD

Both autism and ADHD are two of many neurodivergent conditions that happen to co-occur more frequently than people have historically realized. That’s why sharing about the AuDHD experience is increasingly important for the neurodivergent community. 

Even though there are many nuances to them, let’s try to define each one as straightforwardly as possible. Autism is characterized by differences in social communication, differences in information processing and restricted/repetitiveness. ADHD is characterized by differences in attention, focus, and may also include differences in activity level and impulse control. 

One of the most important things to remember is that even though ADHD and autism are different, it’s very possible to be diagnosed with both. In fact, more than half of the individuals who have been diagnosed as autistic also show signs of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. 

Similarities between autism and ADHD

Let’s start with what they have in common. Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are both disabilities that affect neurological development, meaning that they have an impact on the central nervous system, which includes the brain. The system manages important functions such as language, memory and social skills. If the system has been affected during development, these functions can become challenging.

The overlapping characteristics of autism and ADHD include:

• Differences in executive functioning 

• Sensory differences 

• Masking 

• Social struggles

• Hyperfocus

• Stimming

• Academic and employment barriers

Differences between autism and ADHD

While there are some things that autism and ADHD have in common, there are quite a few ways that they differ from one another. If you have any of the shared characteristics that we’ve listed above, taking note of their differences will help you determine which experiences align with your own. 

Here are just a few differences between autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder:

• Routines — Both autistic people and people with ADHD tend to approach routines in a different manner. Autistic people feel comfortable with strict schedules and predictability. Deviating away from those schedules can cause distress. People with ADHD have a hard time sticking to schedules due to other distractions and the ADHD brain’s desire for spontaneity vs. routine.

• Sensory uses and experiences are different for each — Between autism and ADHD, stimming can stem from a different need, and serves a much different function. Autism stimming is born out of a need for comfort, soothing, and regulatory repetition, and ADHD stimming is more to increase focus, release energy and aid in impulse control. Both can get overstimulated or understimulated but these needs arise in different ways.

• Relationship to novelty/spontaneity — The autistic brain tends to gravitate toward things that are familiar, whereas the ADHD brain craves new and novel input. 

• Interest and focus — Autistic people commonly have deep, passionate, intense areas of interest and may research extensively about their special interests or otherwise deeply engage in these specific subjects. They often struggle to entertain topics outside of their special interest, and can instead monologue with great detail about that preferred topic. ADHDers, by contrast, have moments of hyperfocus when they are deeply engrossed in a task or topic, but when they are not in a hyperfocused state, they tend to have the ability to entertain a diverse range of topics with a broader and unrestricted nature.

• Social communication — Although there are overlaps, communication challenges also manifest and are experienced differently in autism and ADHD. While they both may experience difficulties with social norms/conversational reciprocity, it is typically for unique reasons, e.g., an autistic person may monologue about restricted topics whereas an ADHDer may frequently interrupt in conversation impulsively or because they don’t want to lose their train of thought. Relationship issues present for both autistic people and ADHDers, e.g., an autistic person may go a long time without texting their friends because they are experiencing autistic burnout socially whereas an ADHDer may be too distracted to text back. 

• Medication — ADHD can be treated with medication. There is no medication for autism.

NeuroSpark offers neurodiversity-affirming therapy

It can be frustrating to navigate these difficulties when you are unsure about the root of your challenges. AuDHDers frequently come to us with the desire to comprehensively understand how both neurotypes intersect for them personally. Equipped with more knowledge, people can understand how to accommodate their specific needs.

At NeuroSpark, we offer a dual-assessment option to evaluate you for both autism and ADHD. We understand the overlap and distinctions to help you gain clarity on your unique neurotype. We also offer neurodiversity-affirming therapy for adults. Our qualified, expert providers can get the answers you are seeking and help you learn strategies that can benefit your life.