ASRS + AQ-10 Both Positive: Is It AuDHD? AuDHD Assessment Next Steps That Actually Help
- Ryan Burns
- 12 hours ago
- 7 min read
Last reviewed: 02/27/2026
Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly
If your ASRS and AQ-10 were both positive, it can be tempting to jump straight to “So is this AuDHD?” An audhd assessment can help you sort out what’s going on, but screeners are only a starting point, not a diagnosis.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Why ADHD and autism traits can overlap (and feel contradictory)
What popular screeners can and can’t tell you
What to expect from a combined ADHD/autism evaluation
How to choose a provider (especially for adult women and high masking)
Next steps that reduce stress and increase clarity
🧭 Key takeaway: A positive screener result is best treated as a “signal to look closer,” not a final answer. [1,4]
Why both can be true (and why it can feel confusing)
When both an ADHD screener and an autism screener come back positive, there are a few common explanations: you truly meet criteria for both; one condition is present and the other screener is picking up overlap; or stress, anxiety, trauma history, sleep issues, or burnout are amplifying traits that resemble both. A careful evaluation is designed to untangle these possibilities. [2,3,6]
Push-pull traits (novelty + sameness)
A classic “AuDHD feeling” is wanting stimulation and structure at the same time. You might crave novelty, start projects enthusiastically, and get bored quickly (a common ADHD pattern), while also feeling calmer with predictability, routines, or “the same meal, the same playlist” (often reported in autism). [6]
Example: You book a last-minute weekend trip because you’re restless and under-stimulated, then spend the whole drive feeling tense because the plan is changing, the hotel is unfamiliar, and you didn’t pack your preferred items.
🧩 Key takeaway: The push-pull isn’t “you being inconsistent.” It can reflect two real needs: stimulation and nervous-system safety. [6]
Masking, burnout, and contradictions
Many adults, especially adult women and people socialized to “be easygoing,” learn to mask or camouflage traits: rehearsing conversation, copying social scripts, or forcing eye contact even when it feels uncomfortable. Camouflaging can delay recognition and raise the cost of getting through everyday life. [7,8,9]
Over time, that effort can contribute to autistic burnout, a state associated with exhaustion and reduced coping capacity after prolonged stress and mismatch between demands and supports. [10]
Example: You can “perform” well at work all day, but collapse at home. Your partner sees shutdowns, irritability, or sensory overwhelm and wonders why it doesn’t match your competent public version.
🧠 Key takeaway: High masking can make your profile look “less obvious” in brief screening, but more intense in daily recovery time. [7,9,10]
What screeners can’t tell you about an audhd assessment
Screeners like the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and the AQ-10 autism screener are meant to flag whether a fuller evaluation is worth pursuing. They are not built to explain your full neurodevelopmental story or your best next steps. [1,3,4]
Which traits come from what
Some experiences show up in both ADHD and autism, but for different reasons. For example:
“Zoning out” can be ADHD inattention, autistic overload, or both.
Social difficulty can reflect missed social cues (autism), impulsive interruptions (ADHD), anxiety, or a mix.
Sensory sensitivity is often associated with autism, but many people with ADHD also report sensory over-responsivity. [6]
Because screeners are brief, they can’t map a trait to its “why.” That’s one reason false positives and false negatives happen, particularly when screeners are used outside the settings they were designed for. [11]
📌 Key takeaway: The most helpful question isn’t “Which label is correct?” It’s “What pattern has been present over time, across contexts, and at a cost?” [2,3]
What support plan fits you
Even when two people get the same screener scores, they might need completely different supports. Screeners can’t tell you:
Whether workplace accommodations would be helpful (or what to request)
Whether coaching, therapy, skills support, medication, or a combined plan fits best
Whether burnout, anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, or sleep problems are driving the urgency right now [2,3]
If you’re looking for relief while you pursue answers, starting with practical supports can help: realistic routines, sensory supports, and executive-function scaffolding (like external reminders, task “chunking,” and body-doubling). Many adults also benefit from executive function coaching alongside therapy or evaluation.
🛠️ Key takeaway: You don’t have to wait for a diagnosis to start lowering demand and increasing support.
What a combined evaluation should include
A high-quality combined evaluation is more than an “ADHD and autism test.” It’s a structured process that connects symptoms to history, impairment, and real-life recommendations. Clinical guidelines emphasize comprehensive assessment and careful diagnostic decision-making. [2,3]
If you’re exploring psychological assessment options at ScienceWorks, here are components you can expect from a strong ADHD/autism assessment.
Differential diagnosis + comorbidities
A combined evaluation should actively consider:
Early developmental history (what was true in childhood, not only recently)
Multiple settings (school, work, home, relationships)
Mental health conditions that can mimic or amplify ADHD/autism traits (anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma-related symptoms, substance use, sleep disorders) [2,3]
Co-occurrence of ADHD and autism, which is common and can shape how traits show up day to day [5,6]
Clear recommendations (work, home, relationships)
Ask upfront what your deliverables will include. A meaningful report usually goes beyond a diagnosis and includes:
Specific, practical strategies (not generic “use a planner” advice)
Workplace or academic accommodation language when appropriate
Treatment options with pros/cons and sequencing (what to start first)
Relationship supports, like communication scripts and sensory agreements [2,3]
Example: Instead of “improve time management,” a useful recommendation might be: “Use a 10-minute ‘landing pad’ routine after work (quiet time + sensory reset) before discussing decisions or logistics.”
How to choose a provider for combined evaluation
If you’re searching for adult ADHD and autism testing, you’re not just choosing a test, you’re choosing a process. That’s especially true for an ADHD/autism assessment in Tennessee, where licensing, documentation standards, and wait times can vary.
Experience with adult women + masking
If you suspect AuDHD in adult women (or you’ve been high masking for years), consider asking:
How do you account for masking and late-identified autism in adults? [8,9]
Do you routinely evaluate co-occurring ADHD and autism? [5,6]
What does your interview process look like, and how do you gather collateral history (school reports, family input, past evaluations)?
🧩 Key takeaway: A clinician who understands high masking will ask about effort and recovery, not just visible behavior. [7,8,9]
Deliverables and documentation needs
Before you book, clarify:
Will you receive a written report, or only a feedback session?
Does the report include functional impact and accommodation recommendations?
If you need documentation for work or school, what does their report typically cover?
What is the timeline for results and follow-up planning?
For many people, “done” isn’t the diagnosis, it’s a clear plan. If you’re not sure where to start, ScienceWorks also offers a mental health screening hub so you can track symptoms and questions over time.
Next steps
If you’ve taken an adhd or autism test online and feel more confused than before, you’re not alone. Here’s a practical path forward:
Save your screener scores and notes about what was going on when you took them (stress, sleep, deadlines).
Write down 5 examples of how traits affect your life (work, home, friendships, sensory needs, emotions).
Ask a trusted person what they noticed about you as a kid (attention, social energy, routines, sensitivities).
Start one support this week (a small routine, sensory support, or coaching scaffold).
If you want to retake or review the tools:
If you’re ready for a combined evaluation, you can learn about our assessment process and reach out for fit and scheduling. Start here: contact ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare.
🤝 Key takeaway: The goal of an evaluation isn’t just a label. It’s clarity you can use and recommendations you can act on.
About ScienceWorks
ScienceWorks was founded by Dr. Kiesa Kelly - a clinical psychologist with a concentration in neuropsychology and over 20 years of experience in psychological assessment. Her postdoctoral training included an NIH-funded fellowship focused on ADHD.
Dr. Kelly provides neurodiversity-affirming assessments and therapy for adults and teens, with a special interest in previously undiagnosed ADHD and autism in high-masking adults. Learn more about Dr. Kelly.
References
Kessler RC, Adler L, Ames M, et al. The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): a short screening scale for use in the general population. Psychol Med. 2005;35(2):245-256. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291704002892
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management (CG142). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg142
Booth T, Murray AL, McKenzie K, Kuenssberg R, O'Donnell M, Burnett H. Brief report: an evaluation of the AQ-10 as a brief screening instrument for ASD in adults. J Autism Dev Disord. 2013;43(12):2997-3000. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10803-013-1844-5
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Hull L, Petrides KV, Allison C, et al. "Putting on My Best Normal": social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions. J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(8):2519-2534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5
Bargiela S, Steward R, Mandy W. The experiences of late-diagnosed women with autism spectrum conditions: an investigation of the female autism phenotype. J Autism Dev Disord. 2016;46(10):3281-3294. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2872-8
Cook J, Hull L, Crane L, Mandy W. Camouflaging in autism: a systematic review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2021;89:102080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102080
Raymaker DM, Teo AR, Steckler NA, et al. "Having All of Your Internal Resources Exhausted Beyond Measure and Being Left with No Clean-Up Crew": defining autistic burnout. Autism Adulthood. 2020;2(2):132-143. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2019.0079
Taylor EC, Livingston LA, Clutterbuck RA, Shah P. Psychometric concerns with the 10-item Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ10) as a measure of trait autism in the general population. Experimental Results. 2020;1:e3. https://doi.org/10.1017/exp.2019.3
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice or a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. If you are in crisis or feel unsafe, call 988 (U.S.) or your local emergency number.
