Autism and ADHD: A study of two journeys in the brain's attention highway

By oliviacook // 2025-04-26

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ADHD is a neurological difference centered on attention regulation, often involving a need for stimulation, distraction and impulsivity.
Autism involves a suite of neurological differences – including emotional, sensory and social processing – and may include attention differences (both over- or under-regulated).
Both conditions can involve difficulty regulating attention, but with different underlying causes and patterns.
Uneven abilities (e.g., excelling in some areas while struggling in others) are a hallmark of autism but not necessarily of ADHD.
Diagnosis is complex – overlapping traits can mask or mimic each other and context matters.
ADHD = a single color; autism = the full rainbow – the neurodiversity metaphor helps illustrate the complexity and richness of each condition.

Ever feel like your brain just won't sit still? Or maybe it won't let go of a thought, no matter how much you want it to? These are two sides of a neurodiverse coin – and they are key to understanding two of the most common developmental differences: ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and autism. While they can look similar on the surface, ADHD and autism are distinct conditions. But here's the twist: they also overlap. And when they do, diagnosis, support and understanding can get messy. This article is inspired by the 2022 study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry and the powerful personal reflections of Paul Micallef, founder and host of the platform AspergersFromTheInside. His work helps bridge the gap between lived experience and scientific understanding, offering connection, education and support to individuals navigating autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Together, these sources reveal a deeper, cleaner picture of ADHD and autism, not just as diagnoses but as distinct and overlapping ways of feeling, thinking and experiencing the world.

Same behavior, different brain

At a glance, kids (and adults) with ADHD or autism can seem very similar. Both might struggle with focus, have difficulty in social situations or show intense interest in certain activities. But what's going on under the surface isn't always the same. Imagine two people, both standing still in the middle of a rainy street. On the surface, their behavior looks the same, but their reasons for standing there might be completely different. One may be stuck because they're "under-regulated" – distracted, overwhelmed and unable to figure out what to do next. The other might be "over-regulated" – hyper-focused on finishing a specific mental checklist before moving. Same behavior but different brain patterns – and different kinds of support would help each person. ADHD is primarily about under-regulation of attention: trouble focusing, sitting still or waiting your turn. It is powered by emotion and stimulation – when something is exciting, the brain kicks into overdrive. When it's not, starting can feel impossible. Autism, on the other hand, can involve over-regulation – difficulty switching gears, letting go or adapting to change. Autistic people may focus so intensely that they lose track of time or struggle to transition between tasks, even when they want to. But autism also includes a much wider range of neurological differences beyond attention, from sensory sensitivities to emotional processing and social perception.

Attention: Too little, too much or just different?

Attention is not one-size-fits-all. Some people have trouble starting a task, others can't stop. Some bounce between ideas, others get stuck in a loop. Here's how these differences play out:

ADHD often looks like inattention and impulsivity – losing focus, forgetting instructions or acting without thinking.
Autism can look like hyperfocus, obsession or rigidity – staying locked onto a single activity, idea or thought, sometimes to the exclusion of everything else.
Both conditions can struggle with regulation – it's just that the "traffic jam" in the brain happens for different reasons.

This is why a child who seems inattentive in class might actually be laser-focused on something else, like a buzzing light or a deep thought they can't shake. Or why a child who seems inflexible might be trying to manage overwhelming sensory input or strong emotions. One of the clearest markers of autism – and what often sets it apart from ADHD – is an uneven profile of abilities. That means someone might excel in one area while really struggling in another. Imagine a person who's brilliant at solving complex puzzles but finds casual conversation baffling. Or someone who can sing opera flawlessly but gets overwhelmed by phone calls. These "gaps in skillset" are common in autism and not typically seen in ADHD, where strengths and weaknesses often align more closely with the general population, just amplified by attention differences. ADHD and autism are both neurobiological. They're rooted in how the brain processes attention, emotion, sensory input and social information. Research shows they share genetic links, brain patterns and even cognitive traits, like difficulties with executive function, impulse control or working memory. In fact, many people meet the diagnostic criteria for both, but until recently, that wasn't always recognized. Historically, clinicians were discouraged from diagnosing both ADHD and autism in the same person. Now, they know better. Take, for example, quantitative EEG studies (a way of measuring brainwave activity). These show distinct patterns for ADHD and autism, but also areas of overlap. ADHD is often associated with differences in theta and beta waves, while autism shows changes in alpha, beta and gamma waves. Both conditions impact attention and sensory processing, but they do so in different ways and across different brain networks.

Diagnosing by differences – not just deficits

Because ADHD and autism share traits – and because those traits can show up in wildly different ways – diagnosis can be tricky. One person may seem distracted, another inflexible. One may avoid eye contact, and another may speak nonstop. But beneath these behaviors are brains wired to see and respond to the world differently. It is not just about what's "wrong" – it is about how someone's brain works. That is why it is so important to look at the pattern of strengths and challenges. Not just "Can they pay attention?" but "What do they pay attention to – and how. What helps or hurts their focus? Do they hyperfocus or zone out? Can they switch tasks? How do emotions or sensory input affect them?"

Different paths, shared needs

At the end of the day, whether someone has ADHD, autism, both or something else entirely, what matters most is understanding the individual. Not every kid who blurts out answers has ADHD. Not every quiet child has autism. And, not everyone with one diagnosis fits the mold. Science is still catching up to the lived experiences of neurodivergent people. But people are learning that these are "conditions," not "disorders" to be fixed – they are variations in how the brain engages with the world. Some people need support with focus. Others with transitions. Some need support with communication, others with sensory overwhelm. And some need all of the above – just in different ways. Neurodiversity is complex. It is messy and it is human, so keep learning – and make space for every kind of brain. Watch this video about how a woman's ADHD hides her autism. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

NATURAL NEWS

Same behavior, different brain

Attention: Too little, too much or just different?

Diagnosing by differences – not just deficits

Different paths, shared needs

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