ADHD and autism together

A plain-English guide: general information, not medical advice. ADHD shows up differently in different people. If this is getting in the way of daily life, a GP can help, and there are people to talk to if things feel heavy. Last checked October 2026.

ADHD and autism often go together. Some people use the word AuDHD for having both. If you recognise yourself in both descriptions, you are not unusual.

How often?

Studies come out with different numbers, because they look at different groups of people and use different ways of measuring. Here is what two published studies found:

Autistic people who also have ADHD: a review that pooled 63 studies (Rong and colleagues, 2021) estimated about 38.5% at the time of the studies and 40.2% over a lifetime. A US survey of young people aged 12 to 17 (Accardo and colleagues, 2022) found that about half of autistic teenagers also had ADHD. Figures vary a lot between studies.
People with ADHD who also have autism: lower. In that US survey, about 1 in 10 of the teenage girls with ADHD (9.5%) and about 1 in 6 of the teenage boys with ADHD (15.4%) also had an autism diagnosis. Other studies find different numbers.

You may hear "40%" used both ways round. The research does not say that: the 40% figure is for ADHD among autistic people, and the figure the other way round is lower. Either way, a lot of people have both, and more people have some traits of the other without meeting the full criteria.

What it can feel like

People who have both often describe being pulled two ways: wanting routine and predictability, and also wanting novelty and stimulation. Noise, light and busy places can be tiring. Plain, literal wording can be easier than hints and guessing. Switching from one task to another can be hard, and so can starting. None of this is a rule, and it varies a great deal.

Why this site looks the way it does

This website is built with both in mind: calm colours with no glaring white, nothing that moves, no timers or countdowns, one clear thing to do on each page, plain words, and an undo button wherever you change something. There are also quieter looks to choose from in the display preferences.

If you think this might be you

An assessment can help, though the waits are long in many places, and you do not need one to use what helps you. Start with a GP, and see Useful places for more about assessments.

Sources and further reading

The figures above are the ones the two studies report. Other studies give different numbers, so check the papers for details.