Most people who are both Autistic and ADHD know the experience before they have words for it. The part of you that needs a plan fights the part that can't follow one. You build a routine that works perfectly, then abandon it within a week. You crave predictability and novelty at the same time, and you think deeply about a decision only to act impulsively anyway.

There are neuropsychological reasons for this. Autism is associated with slower, more deliberate thinking and a strong orientation toward predictability. ADHD is associated with faster, more impulsive processing and a pull toward stimulation and novelty. When both are present, they create cognitive tensions that most current frameworks miss. Autism and ADHD are still largely treated as two separate checklists that happen to overlap, rather than a combined experience with a distinct pattern of its own.

This presentation introduces a competing demands framework for understanding AuDHD cognition, drawing on dual process theory, cognitive profiling research, and research on autistic burnout. It shows how this framework applies to three areas where AuDHD adults commonly struggle: maintaining routines, managing decision-making, and recognising early signs of burnout. Attendees will leave with a practical model for clinical work, education, or personal use.