The Cousin Conditions: Are ADHD and Autism Related?

If you spend any time in neurodivergent spaces, you will start to notice a pattern. You meet someone with ADHD, and five minutes later, they mention their sensory sensitivities. You meet someone Autistic, and they mention their struggle with organization.

It leads to the inevitable question: Are they connected?

The answer is a resounding yes. While they are distinct diagnoses, they are genetically and neurologically linked. Think of them less as strangers and more as siblings—or at the very least, first cousins who grew up in the same house.

Here is the breakdown of how they overlap, how they clash, and why so many people have both.

1. The “AuDHD” Phenomenon

For a long time, doctors believed you couldn’t be both. The diagnostic manuals actually forbade it!

We now know that was wrong. Current research suggests that a huge percentage of Autistic people also meet the criteria for ADHD, and vice versa.

This combination is affectionately known in the community as AuDHD.

If you have both, you aren’t “doubly” broken. You just have a more complex operating system that requires a specific kind of balance.

2. The Shared Struggles (The Overlap)

Why do they look so similar? Because they both impact the Frontal Lobe—the part of the brain responsible for “adulting.”

• Executive Dysfunction: Both groups struggle with planning, organizing, starting tasks, and managing time. The reason might differ (ADHD is distracted; Autism is overwhelmed by the steps), but the result (a messy room) is the same.
• Sensory Processing: Both ADHD and Autistic brains often have the volume turned up too high. Bright lights, scratchy tags, and loud noises can cause pain or fatigue for both. (This is why our sensory-friendly hoodies are best-sellers for both communities).
• Stimming: Fidgeting, rocking, or vocalizing to regulate energy is common in both.
• Social Differences: Both can struggle with small talk, eye contact, and unwritten social rules, often preferring deep, direct conversations over polite chit-chat.

3. The Internal Tug-of-War (The Conflict)

If you have AuDHD, you might feel like you have two opposing drivers fighting for the steering wheel. This can be the most exhausting part of the experience.

• Routine vs. Novelty:
  • Your Autistic side craves routine, sameness, and a familiar breakfast every day.
  • Your ADHD side craves dopamine, adventure, and hates doing the same thing twice.
  • The Result: You create a perfect routine… and then get bored of it three days later, leaving you feeling guilty and unstable.
• Order vs. Doom Piles:
  • Your Autistic side wants a tidy, organized environment to feel calm.
  • Your ADHD side creates “doom piles” of clutter and forgets where it put the scissors.
  • The Result: You live in a messy house that actively stresses you out.

4. Why Knowing Matters

Understanding the relationship is vital for your mental health.

If you only treat the ADHD (for example, with stimulant medication), you might find your Autistic traits become more visible. Why? Because the ADHD was providing a chaotic “noise” that masked the Autistic need for order. Once the ADHD is quieted, the Autism speaks up: “Actually, I really hate the texture of this chair.”

Recognizing that these conditions are related helps you stop fighting yourself. You aren’t failing at being organized; you are navigating a complex neurological remix.