# What Is AuDHD?
AuDHD is an emerging term that describes people living with both autism and ADHD simultaneously. While not an official clinical diagnosis, the label reflects a documented reality: the two conditions overlap far more often than many parents realize.
Research shows that 50 to 70 percent of autistic people also have ADHD. This comorbidity rate is striking enough that clinicians and researchers increasingly recognize the need for language that captures the unique experience of having both conditions. The term AuDHD acknowledges that autism and ADHD interact in ways that create distinct challenges—and strengths—beyond what either diagnosis alone would suggest.
Understanding this overlap matters for parents navigating their child's care. Someone with AuDHD doesn't simply have autism plus ADHD as separate experiences. The conditions influence each other. Executive function difficulties from ADHD compound organizational and planning struggles that autism can create. Sensory sensitivities intensify. Social communication challenges become more layered. At the same time, many people with AuDHD report exceptional creativity, hyperfocus abilities, and unique problem-solving skills that emerge from both conditions working together.
The Child Mind Institute, which published this explanation, notes that recognizing AuDHD helps families and professionals understand why certain interventions work—or don't work—for their child. A treatment plan designed for ADHD alone may miss critical autism-related needs. Similarly, autism-focused strategies might not address the impulsivity and attention regulation challenges ADHD brings.
Parents whose children have received both diagnoses should expect their clinical team to understand this intersection. Schools, therapists, and doctors increasingly familiar with AuDHD are better positioned to create comprehensive support plans. If your child has autism, screening for ADHD becomes even more important. If your child has ADHD,