AuDHD, the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD, is often missed or misdiagnosed. Learn the signs to look for and how an AuDHD assessment can help you or your child get the right support.
Key Points
Summary:
AuDHD describes the experience of having both autism and ADHD, a combination that can be hard to spot because the two conditions often mask each other. Understanding the difference between AuDHD and ADHD can help adults and children get a more accurate diagnosis and the right kind of support. This guide covers who should consider an AuDHD assessment for adults, the signs to watch for, and how to access assessment and support through the NDIS.
Outline:
Do you ever feel like your mind is pulling you in two directions at once? Maybe you crave routine, but you also get bored easily. Maybe you want to connect with others, but conversations feel tricky. If this sounds familiar, you might be dealing with AuDHD.
AuDHD is when autism and ADHD show up together in the same person. It's more common than many people realise, yet it's often missed or misunderstood. Getting the right AuDHD assessment can be life-changing. It helps you understand yourself better and opens the door to support that actually fits your needs.
At Sureway Health & Wellbeing, we walk alongside people through this process. Through this guide, we'll explain what AuDHD is, who should consider an assessment, the signs to look out for, and how to access support, including through the NDIS.
AuDHD is a term used by neurodivergent communities to describe someone who has both autism and ADHD. For a long time, professionals believed these two conditions couldn't occur together. We now know that's not true. Many people live with both, and each condition shapes how the other one shows up.
AuDHD isn't an official diagnosis on its own. Instead, it's a helpful way to describe a very real experience: managing social differences, sensory sensitivity, trouble with everyday planning, and big emotions, sometimes all at the same time.
ADHD on its own usually involves difficulty with focus, impulsivity, and restlessness. AuDHD includes those traits too, but they sit alongside autistic traits like a need for routine, sensory sensitivities, and differences in social communication.Â
Understanding AuDHD vs ADHD matters because the two can look quite different from the outside, even though they share some common ground.
This combination often gets missed because autism and ADHD can hide each other. For instance, a person's ADHD impulsivity might be balanced out by autistic caution, making both traits harder to spot.
Many people, especially adults, become skilled at masking their struggles so they can fit in and get by. On the outside, everything might look fine. On the inside, it can be a different story.
This is why so many people are misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression before anyone considers AuDHD.
An AuDHD assessment can help many different people. It's especially useful if you've had long-term struggles with organising your day, alongside sensory, social, or communication differences that don't quite fit the picture of just one condition.
You might benefit from an adult AuDHD assessment if you:
If any of this sounds like you, or someone you love, an AuDHD assessment for adults can offer real clarity. It's not about putting a label on someone. It's about finally understanding the full picture, so the right support can follow.
AuDHD often feels like an inner tug-of-war. The autistic need for sameness and routine pulls one way, while the ADHD drive for novelty and stimulation pulls the other. These traits can look different depending on someone's age, but there are some patterns that often show up across the board.
If several of these signs sound familiar, it may be worth speaking with a professional about an AuDHD assessment.
It's important to know that the NDIS does not fund the actual diagnostic assessment for AuDHD. Getting diagnosed is part of the health system, not the NDIS. Diagnostic assessments are usually completed through private clinicians or Medicare, and a diagnosis needs to happen before you apply for NDIS support.
Here's how the process generally works.
Step 1: Get your diagnosis
For ADHD, start with a visit to your GP so they can refer you to a psychiatrist. Depending on the assessment pathway, a Mental Health Care Plan may help cover part of the cost of psychological appointments through Medicare.
For autism, you'll need a full clinical assessment with a registered psychologist or psychiatrist.
Step 2: Gather evidence of how AuDHD affects your daily life
It’s important to remember that a diagnosis alone isn't enough to access the NDIS. You'll also need to show how AuDHD affects your everyday life on an ongoing basis. This usually includes:
Step 3: Submit your application
Once you've gathered your evidence, you can apply to become an NDIS participant. You can do this by:
From there, you can submit your completed ARF along with your clinical reports to the NDIA for review.
Sureway Health & Wellbeing understands that AuDHD looks different for everyone. That's why we take the time to provide thorough, caring, and personalised assessments. Our experienced team assesses for autism, ADHD, and the combination of both, so nothing gets missed, and you get the full picture.
Our support doesn't stop once you have a diagnosis. Afterwards, our team will guide you through the next steps. This might include therapy, care planning, or referrals to other services. We want to help you or your child thrive, with care that's built around your own strengths, challenges, and goals.
You can visit us at our Bundoora and Eltham locations. We also support people across nearby suburbs, including Mill Park, Thomastown, Reservoir, Greensborough, Watsonia, Diamond Creek, and Northeast Melbourne. If you're further away, we offer telehealth appointments Australia-wide, so support is never out of reach.
If any of this sounds like you, your child, or someone you love, we'd love to hear from you. Book an appointment with Sureway Health & Wellbeing today, or pass this on to someone who might need it. Our team is here to listen and support you every step of the way.
Sureway Health and Wellbeing psychology team provide services across the following locations: Bundoora, Mill Park, Thomastown, Reservoir, Greensborough, Watsonia, Eltham, Diamond Valley, North Eastern Melbourne and via telehealth Australia wide.
