While only 10% of the general population are ADHD, as many as 40% of Autistic people are also ADHD (source here) with some estimates suggesting the overlap to be even more significant. And despite 2-3% of the population being Autistic 20-50% of ADHD people are also Autistic (source here). Despite this significant overlap, to be diagnosed with both in the United Kingdom, you have to be referred to two different waiting lists and assessed for both separately.

Being Autistic and ADHD (sometimes called AuDHD) constitutes it's own unique experience that is different to solely being one or the other. Accurate identification of autism and ADHD can be life changing, and some of the benefits include:

• Improves self-confidence. Autistic and ADHD people often have very negative opinions of themselves due to negative attitudes towards their difference throughout their life. Knowing they are Autistic or ADHD can help them to understand that their isn’t a problem with them and that they aren’t alone in their difference.
• Access to community. When we know we are Autistic or ADHD, it gives us a starting point for finding people who share our experiences and making a meaningful connection. Accessing community has been shown to improve wellbeing in Autistic people.
• When people understand their struggles, they can start to find solutions. Many neurodivergent people describe feeling broken and hopeless before discovering their neurodivergent identity and describe the feeling of relief when they discover they are just different.
• Knowing of our diagnosis helps us be signposted to more appropriate support. Part of finding the best path through life is to know what terrain is most accessible for you.

For more on autism and ADHD diagnosis in the UK, see here.

In order to aid in accurate and timely diagnosis, we are calling on the NHS to always assess for ADHD when an autism assessment referral is made, and vice versa. It is our opinion that this will help reduce the over-representation of Autistic and ADHD people in mental health and suicidality statistics.

Please sign this petition to show your support, and share it widely where ever you can with #AlsoADHD and #AlsoAutistic. We must act now while the topic of autism and ADHD diagnosis is of significant relevance to the NHS.