INFO PAGE

Understanding
ADHD & Autism

Awareness, support, and practical guidance for every stage of life.
Tools and clarity for teens and young adults navigating both ADHD and autism.

Living with ADHD and autism (AuDHD) isn’t easy — especially when you’re young and figuring it out. This site is for teens and youth who’ve been diagnosed (or think they might be) and are looking for answers, support, and real-world strategies.

Living with ADHD and autism (AuDHD) isn’t easy — especially when you’re young and figuring it out. This site is for teens and youth who’ve been diagnosed (or think they might be) and are looking for answers, support, and real-world strategies.

We’re here to help you understand

  • What it actually means to have both ADHD and autism
  • How to manage school, home, work, and social life
  • Why your brain works the way it does — and how to work with it
  • You’re not alone. You’re not broken — you are wired differently, and that’s valid.

Who this is for?

Teens and youth who are:

  • Recently diagnosed with ADHD and/or autism
  • Suspecting they might be neurodivergent
  • Looking for practical strategies, emotional support, and community

Common Questions

Is ADHD + Autism Level 1 the same as Level 2 or 3?

Not exactly. The official diagnosis remains Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) plus Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Levels 1, 2, and 3 indicate how much day-to-day support a person needs. The medical label doesn’t change, but the lived experience and support needs can vary significantly depending on the level.

How do the autism support levels affect the experience of ADHD?

When ADHD appears alongside different autism support levels, the combination can change how symptoms present, how visible they are, and what kinds of supports work best. Language people use to describe themselves may also vary according to need and masking strategies.

What is AuDHD?

AuDHD describes when someone has both Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. It’s a community/colloquial term rather than an official medical category, but it helps describe the overlap many people experience.

How common is AuDHD?

Studies and clinical observations suggest a strong overlap: roughly half of people diagnosed with ADHD may also meet criteria for autism, and many autistic people show signs of ADHD. Exact percentages vary across studies, but the overlap is significant.

Autism Support Levels — What They Mean

Level 1 — Needs some support

Struggles with social cues or planning; daily living generally possible with some help. Masking is common.

Level 2 — Needs substantial support

Clearer communication/social challenges and more significant behavior or sensory needs that require targeted support.

Level 3 — Needs very substantial support

Significant challenges with communication, high sensory need or rigidity, and often 1:1 support is helpful or necessary.

As people age, how these levels look can change — teens and young adults face higher social demands, transitions, and expectations that may reveal or complicate earlier patterns.

Learn more about ADHD + Autism combinations

ADHD + Autism Level 1

Often called “twice-exceptional” in schools. Masking and internal struggles (anxiety, burnout) are common; support often focuses on strategies for stress, executive function, and social navigation.

More visible communication and flexibility challenges. Supports address sensory regulation, routine-building, and combined interventions for attention and impulsivity.

Often requires intensive supports. ADHD traits may present differently (e.g., movement, sensory seeking, or difficulties separating attention-related difficulties from autism-related needs).

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