10/23/2025
Image: A poster about some typical experiences of ADHD-only people, Autistic-only people, and people who are both ADHD & Autistic (AuDHD), both internally, and how other people talk about them.
"Differences Between ADHD, Autism, and AuDHD (A side-by-side comparison of symptoms, challenges, and strengths.)"
Column 1 : Feature
Column 2: ADHD
Column 3: Autism
Column 4: AuDHD
"Attention"
ADHD: Easily distracted, trouble focusing on tasks"
Autism: "Hyperfocus on specific interests"
AuDHD: "Inconsistent attention, struggles with transitions"
"Social Skills"
ADHD: "Impulsive, interrupts conversations"
Autism: "Struggles with reading social cues"
AuDHD: "Socially inconsistent, may mask difficulties"
"Sensory Sensitivity"
ADHD: "May seek or avoid certain sensory input"
Autism: "Often experiences sensory overload"
AuDHD: "Strong reactions to sensory input, fluctuates between seeking and avoiding"
"Routine & Flexibility"
ADHD: "Struggles with organization, dislikes strict routines"
Autism: "Prefers strict routines, dislikes unpredictability"
AuDHD: "Difficulty with both structure and flexibility"
"Emotional Regulation"
ADHD: "Impulsive emotional reactions"
Autism: "Difficulty expressing emotions"
AuDHD: "Intense emotions, may have difficulty recognizing feelings"
"Communication Style"
ADHD: "Talks excessively, changes topics frequently"
Autism: "Prefers direct or scripted communication"
AuDHD: "May struggle with conversational balance"
"Executive Function"
ADHD: "Poor time management, forgets tasks"
Autism: "Rigid thinking, struggles with planning"
AuDHD: "Struggles with both organization and adaptability"
"Learning Preferences"
ADHD: "Benefits from hands-on and movement-based learning"
Autism: "Prefers structured, detailed learning"
AuDHD: "Needs structured support with flexibility for engagement"
"Strengths Common"
ADHD: "Creativity, energy, adaptability"
Autism: "Attention to detail, deep knowledge in areas of interest"
AuDHD: "Strong pattern recognition, creative problem-solving"
