Inside, the dual diagnosis that's becoming increasingly common in neurodivergent people — especially women.
Welcome to our spotlight series where each issue, we illuminate a different psychological or neurodevelopmental condition affecting women. Born out of a desire to break through stigma and celebrate cognitive diversity, we delve into how these ‘disorders’ manifest, and how to live a fulfilling life in spite of (or, because of!) them. Starting with, AuDHD.
What is AuDHD?
Chances are, you’re familiar with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) and ASD (autism spectrum disorder), with both being fairly well documented — especially in young men.
At first glance, you might assume the conditions are polar opposites, or that they cancel each other out. Where ADHD tends to involve hyperactivity and impulsivity, autism typically presents with rigid, repetitive behaviors, and intense interests.
However, as it turns out, it’s not only possible to have both conditions at once, but quite common. In fact, research shows that between 50 to 70% of autistic individuals meet the criteria for ADHD, while 20 to 50% of those with ADHD meet the criteria for autism.
These conditions are so commonly co-occurring that they’ve given rise to a new term that merges the two: AuDHD. While the name rolls off the tongue nicely, it’s important to note that AuDHD is not an officially recognised term — yet. However, over the last few years, the term has taken off within the neurodiversity community and social media: prompting more people to seek dual diagnosis.
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