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Can a child have Autism and ADHD Together? Yes. A child can meet the diagnostic criteria for both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). When both occur in the same child, parents may notice a combination of attention difficulties, social-communication differences, hyperactivity, impulsivity, sensory responses, repetitive behaviours, or learning challenges. The World Health Organization also recognizes ADHD as a condition that can co-occur with autism.
For parents, this can be confusing. You may wonder, “Is my child simply very active, or is something else going on?” The answer usually cannot come from one behaviour alone. Looking at the child's complete developmental pattern can provide a clearer picture.
Dr. Ankush Garg
Dr. Ankush Garg is an Autism, ADHD, Child Development and Mental Health Specialist in India, Founder of Manovaidya and Creator of the Neuro-Ayurveda Development System.
His work focuses on developmental, behavioural, and mental wellness concerns through a structured approach that considers the individual child's needs, behaviour, communication, attention, and everyday functioning.
As a Dr Ankush Garg ADHD Specialist, the focus is on understanding the child's overall developmental and behavioural pattern rather than identifying ADHD from one isolated behaviour.
What Does Autism and ADHD Together Mean?
Autism and ADHD are different neurodevelopmental conditions, but they can occur in the same child.
Autism is associated with differences in social communication and interaction, along with restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities. ADHD is associated with persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that can affect everyday functioning.
When a child has both, the characteristics can overlap. For example, a child may want to interact with other children but find it difficult to maintain attention during conversations. Another child may have difficulty with changes in routine while also being highly impulsive or constantly moving.
This is why parents may find it difficult to understand whether a particular behaviour is related to autism, ADHD, both, or another developmental concern.
What Are Early Signs of ADHD in Children?
Early signs of ADHD in children can include difficulty staying focused, excessive activity, acting without thinking, difficulty waiting for turns, frequent forgetfulness, or trouble completing age-appropriate tasks.
However, these behaviours should be considered in context. A child who appears distracted may also be experiencing difficulty understanding language, sensory overload, lack of sleep, or difficulty shifting attention from a preferred activity.
The CDC explains that ADHD diagnosis involves several steps and that other conditions can sometimes produce similar symptoms.
What Are ADHD Symptoms in Children?
ADHD symptoms in children generally involve patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity.
A child with attention difficulties may frequently lose things, forget instructions, have trouble organizing activities, or move from one task to another without finishing. Hyperactive or impulsive behaviours can include excessive movement, interrupting others, difficulty waiting, or acting quickly without considering the consequences.
Not every active or easily distracted child has ADHD. Professionals look at how persistent the symptoms are and whether they interfere with the child's everyday functioning.
What Are the Early Signs of Autism?
Early signs of autism in children may involve differences in social communication, interaction, play, repetitive behaviours, or sensory responses.
Parents may notice that their child does not consistently respond to their name, has difficulty with back-and-forth interaction, uses repetitive movements or phrases, prefers particular routines, or reacts strongly to certain sounds, textures, movements, or other sensory experiences.
One characteristic alone does not establish an autism diagnosis. The CDC explains that autism assessment looks at developmental history and behaviour, and no single screening tool should be used as the sole basis for diagnosis.
What Are Autism Signs in Toddlers?
Parents searching for Autism signs in toddlers may notice differences in communication, gestures, shared attention, play, or responses to everyday situations.
A toddler may repeat sounds or phrases, engage in repetitive play, become distressed when familiar routines change, show unusual sensory responses, or have difficulty engaging in shared play.
Autism can sometimes be detected at 18 months or younger, and the CDC notes that screening is specifically recommended during well-child visits at 18 and 24 months. However, every child's development is different, and concerns at any age are worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
Can Autism and ADHD Look Similar?
Yes, and this is one reason parents can become confused.
For example, a child who does not follow instructions could be experiencing:
Difficulty sustaining attention
Difficulty understanding language
Sensory overload
Difficulty shifting from one activity to another
Lack of interest in the activity
Impulsivity
Difficulty processing information
Similarly, restlessness may appear in both conditions but may have different underlying reasons.
Instead of looking at one symptom, professionals consider the child's communication, attention, behaviour, social interaction, learning, sensory responses, and developmental history together.
What Are Signs of ADHD in School Children?
Signs of ADHD in school children can become more noticeable as classroom and academic demands increase.
Parents or teachers may notice that a child frequently loses school materials, struggles to complete assignments, makes careless mistakes, interrupts others, finds it difficult to remain seated, or needs repeated reminders to follow instructions.
ADHD assessment generally involves information from different people and settings. The CDC notes that healthcare providers may consider reports from parents, teachers, school staff, and others involved in the child's care. They also look for other conditions that may coexist with ADHD, including autism.
How Is Autism and ADHD Together Assessed?
There is no single blood test or one checklist that can diagnose both conditions.
For autism, professionals consider developmental history, communication, social interaction, behaviour, and observation of the child. For ADHD, assessment involves several steps and considers symptoms across relevant settings while also checking for other possible explanations.
A broader developmental assessment may consider:
Communication and language
Attention and learning
Social interaction
Behaviour and emotional responses
Sensory responses
Developmental history
School performance
Daily routines
Sleep and general health
This helps parents understand not only what the child is doing, but also which areas may be creating difficulties in everyday life.
What Should Parents Do If They Suspect Both?
If you notice persistent developmental or behavioural concerns, start by observing patterns rather than trying to diagnose your child at home.
You can note:
When the behaviour happens
What happens immediately before it
How your child responds
Whether it happens at home and school
Which situations are easier or more difficult
What helps your child regulate or participate
Sharing these observations with a pediatrician or appropriately qualified developmental or mental-health professional can make the assessment process more informative.
Early identification of developmental concerns can help families understand their child's needs and access appropriate support.
A Personalized Approach to Child Development
At Manovaidya, Dr. Ankush Garg uses the Neuro-Ayurveda Development System as an individualized developmental framework. It considers different aspects of a child's development rather than focusing on one behaviour in isolation.
The framework includes five interconnected pillars:
1. Brain Nourishment System
This area considers attention, learning, memory, understanding, and cognitive development as part of the child's overall developmental profile.
2. Response System
This focuses on how a child responds to people, instructions, communication, surroundings, and everyday situations.
3. Sensory Integration System
This considers how a child may respond to sounds, touch, movement, textures, lights, and other sensory experiences.
4. Neural Network System
This looks at developmental connections involved in communication, learning, attention, coordination, and other interconnected skills.
5. Behaviour Guidance System
This focuses on understanding behaviours such as impulsivity, restlessness, frustration, repetitive behaviours, emotional responses, and difficulty with transitions within the child's individual context.
These five pillars are part of an individualized developmental framework. They are not diagnostic criteria for autism or ADHD and should not replace a qualified clinical or developmental assessment.
Why Parents Choose Manovaidya
When a child has several developmental concerns, parents may want an approach that considers the child as a whole rather than focusing on one isolated symptom.
Manovaidya focuses on understanding the child's individual developmental profile, including communication, attention, sensory responses, behaviour, learning, and everyday functioning.
Parents may value:
Individualized understanding of their child's strengths and challenges
Personalized care planning according to the child's needs
A structured five-pillar developmental framework
Attention to multiple developmental areas together
Parent involvement in understanding observations from home and school
The aim is to develop a clearer picture of the child's individual needs and identify areas where appropriate professional support may be useful.
Can Autism Be Treated?
Parents often ask, “Can autism be treated?”
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition, so treatment should not be understood as simply “curing” autism. Support can instead focus on communication, learning, daily functioning, participation, well-being, and quality of life according to the individual's needs.
The CDC explains that current autism treatments aim to address symptoms that interfere with daily functioning and quality of life, with different people having different strengths, challenges, and support needs.
For families using Ayurveda, it is important to choose qualified professional guidance and avoid replacing necessary developmental, educational, behavioural, speech, occupational, or medical care. Evidence for Ayurvedic approaches varies by intervention, and NCCIH notes that some Ayurvedic preparations may contain potentially toxic substances.
Final Thoughts
Autism and ADHD Together can create a combination of developmental needs that may look different from one child to another.
One child may mainly struggle with attention and impulsivity, while another may experience social-communication differences, repetitive behaviours, sensory challenges, and attention difficulties at the same time.
So instead of asking only, “Does my child have autism or ADHD?”, parents can also ask:
What is my child finding difficult, and what kind of support does my child need?
Understanding the complete developmental picture can help families have more meaningful conversations with qualified professionals and make informed decisions about appropriate support.
Concerned About Your Child’s Development?
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References
1. CDC – Autism Screening & Diagnosis
https://www.cdc.gov/autism/diagnosis/index.html
2. CDC – Diagnosing ADHD
https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/diagnosis/index.html
3. WHO – Autism Spectrum Disorder
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-spectrum-disorders
4. CDC – Clinical Care of ADHD
https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/hcp/clinical-care/index.html
5. NCCIH – Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ayurvedic-medicine-in-depth