When It’s Not Just One Thing: Exploring the Overlap of Autism and ADHD in Adult Women

You’ve always known your brain worked a little differently.

Maybe you’ve spent years figuring out how to ‘manage’ the noise—both in your mind and the world around you. You’ve got systems. Or you’ve got burnout. Or, more likely, a rotating combination of the two.

And lately, perhaps you’ve started to wonder: what if it’s not just ADHD? What if it’s not just Autism? What if both are true?

You wouldn’t be alone in that question.

Recent research has shown that Autism and ADHD can and often do co-occur. In fact, the overlap is more common than many people realise—especially in adult women who may have gone undiagnosed for decades. In one UK-based study, researchers found that up to half of individuals with Autism also meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, and vice versa.¹

Yet, because diagnostic models were historically based on male presentations—and often focused on childhood behaviour—many women were simply missed. Instead, they were labelled sensitive. Or scattered. Or “a lot.”

And now, in midlife, those same women are finding language that finally fits.

What the Overlap Can Look Like

It might look like struggling with focus and executive function—while also feeling overwhelmed by noise, bright lights, or social demands.

It might mean having a mind that races with creative ideas—while simultaneously craving routine and predictability.

It might mean excelling in structured environments—but shutting down when faced with unspoken rules, grey areas, or sudden change.

For many women, this overlapping experience isn’t a contradiction. It’s a pattern. And once they start recognising it, they begin to understand why they’ve felt both capable and constantly on edge.

If This Sounds Familiar: 3 Gentle Places to Begin

You don’t need to be certain to start exploring. Here are a few practical, non-medical ways to get curious about your experience:

1. Keep an “energy audit.”
Instead of tracking what you do in a day, track how it feels. Note what leaves you drained, what sparks focus, and what you avoid (even if it seems small). You may start to notice patterns that point toward sensory sensitivities, executive function challenges, or the need for structure—all of which are helpful clues.

2. Reflect on your coping strategies.
Have you developed routines or rituals that help you manage your day, but feel rigid or hard to explain? Do you mask exhaustion with perfectionism, or compensate for disorganisation with people-pleasing? These are common experiences for women who’ve been unknowingly navigating both Autism and ADHD for years.

3. Ask: Where do I feel most like myself?
Whether it’s in solitude, in nature, in hyperfocus, or in deeply structured environments—where you feel most at ease can be surprisingly revealing. It’s not about finding a diagnosis in a moment. It’s about understanding your nervous system’s preferences, so you can support them with compassion.

When Labels Become Language

At AAC, we often hear women say they don’t want to be put in a box—they just want clarity. We agree. A diagnosis isn’t about limiting your identity. It’s about giving language to the things you’ve always felt but never quite known how to describe.

Understanding that you might be both autistic and have ADHD doesn’t change who you are. It simply allows you to stop fighting the wrong battles—and start building a life that fits the way your brain actually works.

If this resonates with you, and you’re curious to explore further, consider an adult assessment. Our process is calm, clear, and tailored specifically for adults who may have been missed earlier in life.

You don’t need to prove anything. You don’t need to struggle more. You just need to be curious—and ready to know yourself a little better.

¹ Source: TopDoctors UK – ADHD and ASD: Differences, Similarities and Co-occurrence