Adult AuDHD assessment

Do you suspect you may be AuDHD and are looking for a formal assessment?

When autism and ADHD co-occur, this is known as AuDHD. Around half of autistic and ADHD individuals are believed to be AuDHD. This number is not represented in official statistics because until recently, diagnostic manuals did not allow both diagnoses to be given simultaneously.

What is AuDHD?

AuDHD is the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD. While autism predominantly looks at social-communication differences and ADHD looks at attentional differences, both include a great deal of cross-over including an ability to hyper-focus on interests, executive function challenges and differences in sensory profiles.

AuDHD can be a confusing experience, too. You may find you crave socialising and then feel depleted, want structure and then find the structure overwhelming, or crave new experiences and then need to retreat to safe activities.

AuDHD individuals may find that:

• They are able to hyper-focus on things they are interested in but struggle to attend to things that do not interest them.
• Enjoy spontaneity within specific areas and limits of their life.
• Find a conflict between a preference for routine and a desire for novelty.
• Build incredibly busy lives that then feel overwhelming.
• Experience burnout from trying to balance competing demands.

If you believe you may be AuDHD, we can offer a combined assessment to provide clarity.

How does the process work?

It is important to be clear that AuDHD is not recognised as a separate neurotype. Therefore, when we talk about an AuDHD assessment, what we are doing is conducting an autism assessment and an ADHD assessment at the same time. If you meet the criteria, you will receive a separate set of documentation for each diagnosis.

Step 1: After registering with us, we will ask you to complete a form providing background information on your experience and why you believe you may be AuDHD.

Step 2: We'll meet for your assessment. This typically involves two or three sessions, usually about a week apart. During these sessions you will have an in-depth conversation about your experiences.

Step 3: Where possible, we will gather collateral information from your parents, family member or other individual who has known you since childhood. This can be done face-to-face or via a form. If you are unable to provide a suitable person, we can still carry out your assessment, but it is helpful to have this additional information.

Step 4: We will consult with other professionals as required, as part of our multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach. This allows us to draw on a range of skills to ensure we make an accurate assessment.

Step 5: We will meet one final time and arrive at a formal decision as to whether you are AuDHD or not. Regardless of the outcome, we will be able to signpost you to further support.

Step 6: If we identify that you are autistic, ADHD, or both, we will provide you with a set of documentation to verify your identification/diagnosis.

Post-assessment support: After the assessment, we offer a support session to help you reflect on what comes next. Rather than simply giving you a diagnosis and sending you on your way, these sessions provide space to make sense of the outcome and what it means for you. This might include developing a deeper understanding of neurodivergence, exploring your identity in light of the assessment, and discussing practical strategies that may help with any difficulties you experience.

What are the potential outcomes?

We may identify that you are both autistic and ADHD. We may identify that you are autistic or ADHD but not the other. We may identify that you are not autistic or ADHD. If so, we will be able to signpost you to appropriate support. On rare occasions, we may be unable to reach a clear conclusion.

Alternatively, start with a consultation

A consultation is a one-hour session with me to talk through your experience, ask questions, and think about what would be useful for you. Some people use it to decide whether to pursue a full assessment. Others come for a specific question, a second opinion, or to make sense of something with someone who understands AuDHD from the inside.

Location