ADHD and autism are both neurodevelopmental — present from early life and shaped by how the brain is wired — and they share enough traits that they’re often confused, or one is spotted while the other is missed. But their cores differ: ADHD centers on attention, activity, and impulse regulation, while autism centers on social communication, sensory experience, and a need for sameness.
They also co-occur frequently, so "which one is it?" is sometimes "both". Two quick, private screens can help you see where you land: the adult ADHD test and the AQ-10 autism test.
| Aspect | ADHD | Autism |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Attention & impulse regulation | Social communication & sensory processing |
| Focus | Hard to sustain; jumps around | Can hyper-focus on interests |
| Social | Interrupts, misses cues from inattention | Finds social rules effortful to read |
| Routine | Often craves novelty | Often prefers predictability |
| Sensory | Sometimes sensory-seeking | Frequent sensory sensitivities |
| Overlap | Up to ~half also have autistic traits | Many autistic people also have ADHD |
Where they overlap
Both can involve trouble with focus, emotional intensity, difficulty with transitions, and social friction — which is why a single screen rarely settles it. Restlessness and "stimming", executive-function struggles, and being seen as "too much" or "in their own world" show up in both.
Why it’s worth assessing both
Because ADHD and autism co-occur so often, assessing only one can leave half the picture unexplained. If you recognise yourself in parts of each, that’s worth naming to a clinician — take both the ADHD and autism screens and bring the results with you.
Common questions
- Can you have both ADHD and autism?
- Yes, and it’s common. The combination (sometimes called AuDHD) is now widely recognised.
- How do professionals tell them apart?
- Through a full developmental history and assessment — screens only flag whether that’s worth pursuing.
- Which screen should I take first?
- Whichever fits you best — or take both. They’re quick, private, and complementary.