What is AuDHD?
AuDHD is a community-used term describing the co-occurence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the same individual.
Both are neurodevelopmental conditions that begin in childhood and can influence cognition, sensory processing, emotional regulation, communication, learning, and daily functioning.
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About Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism is characterised by:
Differences in social communication and interaction (e.g., social reciprocity, interpreting social cues, use of pragmatic language)
Restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities (e.g., strict routing, intense interests, repetitive movements)
Sensory differences (e.g., hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory input, seeking sensory input)
Prevalence in Australia:
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2022, there are more than 290,000 Australians that have a diagnosis of Autism (ABS survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC)).
290,000+
290,000+
205,200
2018
2022
However, the number of people living with autism is likely to be substantially higher.
This can be for many different reasons, for example:
Historical approaches to diagnosis
Cost
Wait times to receive diagnosis
May not feel diagnosis is the right path
Impact on Education:
Of Autistic persons aged 15 years and over
Only 5.2% had a Bachelor degree or higher, compared with 35.3% of persons without disability.
17.3% had an Advanced Diploma, diploma, or certificate III/IV as their level of highest educational attainment, compared to 27% of persons without disability.
Autistic females (32.9%) were more likely than Autistic males (13.8) to have attained an educational qualification higher than Year 12 level.
Impact on Workforce:
Participation in the workforce is important for social inclusion and economic independence, but Autistic people [may] encounter barriers to entering the labour market.
(Amaze - Autism and Employment)
In 2022, 71,500 (50.2%) of Autistic people of working age were participating in the labour force. Compared to 84.9% of people without disability of working age.
The unemployment rate for Autistic people of working age was 18.2%, almost six times the rate of people without disability (3.1%).
About Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is characterised by:
Inattention (e.g., high distractibility, difficulty sustaining attention, disorganisation, day dreaming)
Hyperfocus (e.g., intense attention on one activity or topic that may not be of their choosing)
Hyperactivity and/or impulsivity (restlessness, interrupting, acting without considering consequences)
Prevalence in Australia:
Australia doesn't have a single prevalence count for ADHD equivalent to SDAC.
The most cited national figures are from the NHMRC's ADHD Clinical Practice Guideline and Deloitte's Social and Economic Costs of ADHD in Australia which estimate that over 800,000 (2.9%) of Australians are diagnosed.
800,000+
533,000
281,000
Although some professionals question overdiagnosis, evidence indicates that as ADHD has become better identified across demographics, it is highly likely to be under-diagnosed in the community.
children
adults
This can be for many different reasons, for example:
Historical approaches to diagnosis
Cost
Wait times to receive diagnosis
May not feel diagnosis is the right path
Impact on Education:
There is no Australian reporting on higher-learning outcomes for those with ADHD.
One research study from Western Galilee College found that while 59% of 'no ADHD' participants pursued a Bachelors degree, only 21% of those 'Diagnosed ADHD' and 20% of those 'Undiagnosed ADHD' pursued the same.
These rates fell even lower for Masters degrees with only 12% for both eligible 'Diagnosed- and Undiagnosed-ADHD' participants pursuing Masters degree compared with 76% of eligible 'no ADHD' participants.
Impact on Workforce:
According to the Deloitte report linked above, productivity costs resulting from reduced workforce participation, absences from work, and reduced productivity while at work make up 81% of total financial costs. Estimated to be around $10.3 billion out of a total financial cost of $12.8 billion.
About AuDHD
AuDHD is a community-used term describing the co-occurrence of ASD and ADHD in the same individual. It is not a single clinical diagnosis in classification manuals, and until the DSM-V in 2013, it was not possible to dual-diagnose clinically.
Key features of AuDHD:
Many people with AuDHD have both the strengths and difficulties associated with their Autism and ADHD.
The traits of both conditions interact in ways that are complex and individualised. On occasion, one condition may to help compensate for the other, but most often they create conflicting needs:
Sensory seeking, and also sensory sensitivity and avoidance
Need for constant stimulation, and being easily burned out
Needing more rest and recovery, and not being able to rest or sleep due to physical or mental hyperactivity
Seeking novelty and new ideas, and finding change difficult to manage
Needing routine to function, and finding routine difficult or impossible to start and maintain
Even though AuDHD is not a formal diagnosis, it is a real-lived-experience for many people as they face:
Executive functioning challenges - including planning, prioritisation, task switching, time management, and inconsistent performance
Sensory processing variability - including both hyper- and hypo-sensitivity
Social communication differences - including masking, mis-attuning, fatigue, and a preference for clarity
Emotional regulation demands - including overwhelm, dysregulation, and burnout associated with cumulative demands
Variable functional profiles - where strengths (e.g., pattern recognition, deep expertise, creativity) coexist with areas needing support.
For the increasing number of those who identify as having AuDHD, improved understanding and support is important - not just for the individual, but also for their families, educators, employers, and support workers.
Prevalence in Australia:
As it was not possible for dual-diagnosis of co-occurring Autism and ADHD until 2013, and these conditions are assessed separately, there is no formal number of people affected within Australia.
523,000
85,500
lowest prevalence
probability
highest prevalence probability
Due to this lack of official statistics, we are left with extrapolating data from international studies on co-occurrence which leave wild ranging results.
These results have a low prevalence probability of 85,500 Australians having AuDHD, up to a high prevalence probability of over 523,000.
Why it's important to be identified as AuDHD if you have both:
AuDHD people are twice as likely to die as the general population (~16 years less life expectancy)
AuDHD people most likely to die from injury or poisoning (including accident and suicide) with suicide attempts at five times higher than the general population.
Nervous system disorders were the next common cause of death. Compared to the general population who are most likely to die from cancer, heart attach, or stroke.
Gender, geography, and wealth are not associated with increased likelihood of death, unlike in the general population
AuDHD people are more likely to experience complex health issues, chronic illness, neurological issues, and chronic pain.
What AuDHD can mean for individuals
AuDHD is not defined by a single “look”; presentations vary widely. Common clinically relevant impacts may include:
Cognition and executive functioning
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Difficulties with planning, prioritising, initiation, working memory, and time management;
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“Task switching” costs; difficulty moving between activities or contexts;
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Periods of hyperfocus; uneven performance depending on interest, stress, sensory load, and sleep.
Sensory processing and nervous system regulation
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Sensory hyper-reactivity (sound, light, texture, smell) or sensory seeking;
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Elevated baseline arousal; vulnerability to overstimulation;
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Need for recovery time after high-demand environments.
Social communication and relationships
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Differences in pragmatic language (tone, timing, inference, indirect requests);
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Social masking/camouflaging (often with cumulative fatigue);
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Misattunement in group dynamics; preference for direct, unambiguous communication.
Emotional regulation and mental health
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Emotion dysregulation, irritability, overwhelm, shutdown or meltdown responses;
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Increased risk of comorbid anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, sleep disturbance, and burnout (particularly with chronic invalidation, unsupported needs, or high masking demands).
Daily functioning and quality of life
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“High functioning” labels can obscure support needs; functional capacity can be variable;
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Activities of daily living may be impacted (meals, hygiene, admin, finances) despite strengths in other areas.
Important note: AuDHD is a disability for many people in some settings; it can also include significant strengths (pattern recognition, creativity, deep expertise, honesty, persistence). Support should be individualised and needs-based rather than assumption-based.
What AuDHD can mean for supporters
(partners, family, friends, carers)
Supporting someone with AuDHD is most sustainable when it is predictable, practical, and respectful of autonomy.
Helpful principles
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Assume genuine effort: Difficulties are often neurologically mediated (executive functioning, sensory overload), not a lack of care.
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Reduce ambiguity: Clear, concrete language; one request at a time; specify “what good looks like”.
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Co-regulation: Calm tone, reduced sensory input, and non-urgent pacing can prevent escalation.
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Protect recovery time: Social and sensory load has a cost; rest is not optional.
Practical strategies
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Use shared systems: checklists, calendars, reminders; keep them simple and consistent.
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Agree on communication protocols: how to raise issues; how to pause and return; what supports help during overwhelm.
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Plan for overload: identify early warning signs; create a de-escalation plan (quiet space, reduced talking, hydration, time-out).
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Respect sensory needs: lighting, noise, clothing, food texture, and personal space matter.
What AuDHD can mean for
workplaces
AuDHD is a common, legitimate disability-related presentation. Workplaces can improve performance and retention by adjusting job design, communication, and environment.
Common workplace impacts
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High capability with inconsistent output under high interruption or unclear priorities;
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Fatigue and burnout from masking, open-plan sensory load, and social pressure;
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Difficulty with vague feedback; preference for direct, actionable guidance;
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Executive functioning barriers in admin-heavy roles without structure.
Reasonable adjustments
Communication and expectations
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Provide written instructions and clear priorities; confirm deadlines in writing.
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Break work into milestones; define deliverables and “done” criteria.
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Use direct feedback with specific examples; avoid indirect hints.
Workflow and environment
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Reduce interruptions; allow blocks of focus time.
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Offer quiet workspaces, noise control options, flexible seating, or remote/hybrid arrangements where possible.
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Limit unnecessary meetings; provide agendas in advance and actions afterwards.
Performance and support
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Align tasks to strengths; minimise context switching.
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Provide assistive tools (task boards, templates, automated reminders).
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Allow alternative ways to demonstrate competence (written updates rather than verbal; asynchronous communication).
Psychological safety
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Normalise accommodation requests; avoid stigma and “culture fit” bias.
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Train managers in neurodiversity-aware supervision.
Benefits to organisations
When supported appropriately, AuDHD employees often bring strengths such as deep domain expertise, rapid pattern detection, innovation, high integrity, and strong problem-solving under clear constraints.