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Common signs of ADHD in adults include persistent difficulty sustaining attention on tasks you find unstimulating, chronic disorganisation, forgetfulness about appointments and obligations, impulsivity in decisions or speech, inner restlessness, and difficulty starting tasks (executive dysfunction). These challenges must be long-standing — typically since childhood — and cause significant impairment across multiple areas of life. The WHO ASRS-v1.1 is the gold-standard adult ADHD screening tool. Take our free ADHD quiz →

Signs of autism in adults include differences in social communication (difficulty with small talk, preferring direct communication, missing implied meaning), sensory sensitivities (to sounds, textures, lights, smells), a strong need for routine and predictability, difficulty with unexpected changes, intense or highly specific interests, and a tendency to take things literally. Many autistic adults — particularly women — have developed sophisticated masking skills and may not recognise themselves in traditional descriptions. Take our free autism quiz →

AuDHD is the informal term for co-occurring ADHD and Autism Spectrum Condition. Research suggests that 50–70% of autistic people also have ADHD, and vice versa. The combination creates unique internal conflicts: ADHD drives impulsivity and craving for novelty, while autism creates a need for routine and predictability. AuDHD individuals may find they hyperfocus intensely on interests (autism) while simultaneously struggling to start or organise around those interests (ADHD). It is increasingly recognised as a distinct presentation.

ADHD is primarily a disorder of attention regulation, impulse control, and executive function — rooted in dopamine and norepinephrine dysregulation. Autism is primarily characterised by differences in social communication, sensory processing, and a tendency towards pattern-based thinking and routine. A useful distinction: ADHD makes it hard to focus on anything you find boring; autistic people can hyperfocus intensely on their areas of interest but struggle socially and sensorily. Both are neurodevelopmental conditions that can co-occur.

Yes. Before 2013, the DSM-IV prevented a dual diagnosis. Current guidance — DSM-5 and ICD-11 — explicitly allows both diagnoses. Studies consistently show ADHD and autism co-occur at high rates. If you suspect both, it's important to mention both conditions when seeking a referral, as many clinicians assess only one unless both are explicitly raised.

Diagnostic criteria for both ADHD and autism were developed primarily from research on boys and men, leading to descriptions that reflect male presentations. Girls with ADHD are more likely to show inattentive symptoms (daydreaming, disorganisation) rather than hyperactivity, making them less likely to be referred. Autistic girls tend to develop advanced social mimicry from a young age, appearing to cope. This means many women are not diagnosed until their 30s, 40s, or later — often after a child or close family member is diagnosed first.

Masking (also called camouflaging) is the process by which autistic people consciously or unconsciously suppress or disguise their autistic traits to fit in socially. This can include forcing eye contact, scripting conversations in advance, copying others' body language and facial expressions, suppressing stimming behaviours in public, and performing emotions they don't feel. Masking is cognitively exhausting and is strongly associated with anxiety, depression, burnout, and delayed diagnosis.

Autistic burnout is a state of chronic exhaustion, reduced functioning, and withdrawal resulting from sustained masking, sensory overload, and navigating a neurotypical world without sufficient support. Unlike general burnout, autistic burnout can involve regression — loss of skills or abilities that were previously present. Symptoms include profound fatigue, increased sensory sensitivity, social withdrawal, and difficulty performing everyday tasks. Recovery can take months or years, and often requires reducing demands and increasing accommodations.

ADHD burnout occurs when the sustained effort of managing ADHD symptoms — often without a diagnosis or support — leads to physical and emotional exhaustion. Common triggers include periods of high demand, major life transitions, or prolonged hyperfocus followed by a crash. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, emotional dysregulation, loss of motivation, and difficulty completing even simple tasks. It is frequently mistaken for depression.

Start by speaking to your GP. Bring evidence of your symptoms — a completed ASRS-v1.1 screening form (available free on this site), examples of difficulties across different settings, and if possible, a corroborating account from someone who knew you as a child. Ask for a referral to your local adult ADHD service. If you are in England and your wait exceeds 18 weeks, you may be able to use the Right to Choose scheme to access a different provider.

Right to Choose is an NHS England policy that allows patients who have waited more than 18 weeks for a first appointment (after GP referral) to choose an alternative NHS-commissioned provider at no cost. For ADHD, this includes services such as ADHD UK, Psychiatry UK, and others. It applies in England only and covers the assessment but not necessarily ongoing medication management. Your GP must make the referral to your chosen provider.

Ask your GP for a referral to your local adult autism assessment service (typically a community mental health team or specialist neurodevelopmental service). NHS waiting lists can be very long — sometimes several years. Private autism assessments are available from specialist psychologists and psychiatrists and typically cost £800–2,500. The National Autistic Society (autism.org.uk) maintains a directory of assessment services. When approaching your GP, bring evidence of your traits across different settings.

A formal adult ADHD assessment typically involves a detailed clinical interview covering your developmental history, current symptoms, and how they affect your daily life; completion of validated rating scales (such as the ASRS and Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales); and often a collateral history from a parent or partner. Some providers also conduct cognitive testing. The assessment is usually conducted by a psychiatrist or specialist nurse and typically takes 1–3 hours.

For NHS assessments, you typically need a GP referral. However, some private providers accept self-referrals for both ADHD and autism assessments. In England, even for Right to Choose, the GP must make the referral to your chosen provider — but you can ask your GP to refer you to a specific service. Some areas also have community self-referral pathways; check with your local ICB.

The quiz uses four internationally validated clinical instruments — the WHO ASRS-v1.1, the AQ-10, the CAT-Q, and the RAADS-R. These are the same tools used by NHS clinicians and researchers worldwide. The ASRS-v1.1 has a published sensitivity of ~68% and specificity of ~99% for adult ADHD. The AQ-10 is recommended by NICE for autism referral screening. However, these are screening tools only — not diagnostic instruments. A formal diagnosis requires evaluation by a qualified clinician.

Your results show how your self-reported traits compare to the published clinical referral thresholds for each instrument. A score above the threshold means your traits are at a level that warrants professional evaluation — it does not mean you have a diagnosis. A score below the threshold does not rule out neurodivergence; masking, burnout, and the phrasing of questions can all affect scores.

No. The quiz runs entirely in your browser. No answers, results, or personal information are stored on any server or shared with any third party. When you close or refresh the page, all data is gone.