The beauty of a sound diagnosis is that for those who are living with a condition, understanding the underlying cause of the symptoms can provide relief and understanding.
It is this way for people living with AuDHD. Before they are diagnosed, they might experience a myriad of symptoms and believe they are doing something wrong or that they are a failure. They might feel overwhelmed with guilt and shame. Perhaps they battle to make friends or to focus. Or perhaps they have always felt detached from their own lives or from others. Maybe they long for some structure to their lives but find their focus and attention won’t allow for this.
However, receiving a clear diagnosis of AuDHD has been called liberating for those who have it. Many respond with: “Oh… that explains everything!”
So what is AuDHD and why is this concept making waves in psychiatric and medical circles?
AuDHD is when symptoms of both Autism Spectrum Disorder (autism) with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exist within an individual. Simple put: the individual has both autism and ADHD.
Reports say that diagnosis of the condition is on the rise as an increasing number of individuals are being mutually diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism. Better diagnostic tools and improved awareness and education are cited as the reasons for this.
People are becoming more aware of something called ‘neurodiversity’. This term describes variations in nervous systems and human brains; and recognizes that people have different ways of behaving, learning and thinking. This school of thinking suggests that ADHD and autism, for example, are part of human diversity and should not be viewed as deficits which need fixing.
The result of a heightened awareness of neurodiversity is that people are increasingly seeking to be assessed. Many people who were previously undiagnosed with autism and ADHD are now being correctly diagnosed and having ‘aha’ moments as to their past struggles and behaviour.
At the same time, schools, workplaces, and healthcare providers are better informed about the signs of both ADHD and autism. The term ‘AuDHD’ is also becoming more well-known as individuals are seeking to understand their behaviour, thinking and learning ability better.
AuDHD: A Complex Condition With Many Symptoms
In the past, autism and ADHD were considered mutually exclusive disorders. This is because each has its own specific symptoms.
Naming and classifying AuDHD as a unique merging of two conditions has been a milestone in mental healthcare. This is not a trending term. AuDHD’s existence has been confirmed by research.
For example, someone might battle to communicate socially, and also battle to focus. The person might feel like their life is a contradiction. Their brain longs for routine, but they also fight against this.
People living with autism need structure and routine to not feel so overwhelmed. However, with the presence of ADHD, the person’s brain then battles to focus, and so they might feel out-of-control and ‘not good enough’ when they feel out of touch with their own life.
Some of the main symptoms of AuDHD are impulsivity, inattention, learning and social difficulties, sensory challenges (such as with taste or sound), repetitive body movements, problems with self-control, and emotional dysregulation, which might include anger outbursts.
Problems with self-control, repetitive body movements, and sensory challenges are symptoms of autism. Impulsivity and inattention are symptoms of ADHD. Learning and social challenges, and emotional dysregulation are symptoms of both.
A Correct Diagnosis of AuDHD: A Game-Changer For Many
The uniqueness of AuDHD as a separate condition (in addition to a merging of two conditions), cannot be overstated. Researchers are intrigued by the way the traits of the two conditions interact with one another to provide new symptoms and behavioural results.
Research has found that some of the traits actually balance each other out. To give an example, the impulsivity of ADHD and the result this has on making someone more outgoing, might alleviate the social anxiety caused by autism.
The traits, however, might also amplify one another. For example, people living with ADHD might feel overwhelmed in certain contexts and people with autism might battle with sensory sensitivities. Put these together, and you have a recipe for burnout!
Also, the existence of certain symptoms of each condition might create a completely new way of relating. For example, autism causes rigid thinking and processing delays. ADHD can result in inattention and lack of focus. Put together, these symptoms can result in the person having difficulty switching tasks, starting tasks, or knowing how to start.
While research into AuDHD is still underway, they say that ‘naming it’ and receiving a diagnosis is not just the first step towards victory, but rather a giant leap towards victory.
Society is now accepting that ‘neurodivergent’ individuals are not faulty, but rather express differences in how their brains and nervous systems function. ‘Knowing yourself’ and understanding how you are different, can help individuals living with AuDHD to function within those parameters, and to receive the necessary medical assistance and advice from professionals.