AuDHD: The Hidden Diagnosis in Women

Auditory processing difficulties, masking, and social misunderstandings are just a few of the symptoms associated with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, women often experience these symptoms differently, which can lead to missed or delayed diagnoses.

Source: cdn2.psychologytoday.com

Jordan Davis, founder of the Canine Stroke Foundation and an advocate for animal health, is a prime example of this phenomenon. Despite being highly intelligent and achieving academic success, she struggled with social interactions and sensory overload throughout her life.

It wasn’t until her mother was diagnosed with autism in her 70s that Jordan began to understand her own experiences. Her mother’s diagnosis was a turning point, as it helped Jordan recognize the characteristics of autism in herself.

Understanding Autistic Meltdowns

Autistic meltdowns are often misunderstood as tantrums or bad behavior. However, they are actually involuntary responses to sensory or emotional overload. Jordan spent years not knowing that her meltdowns were a result of her inability to cope with her environment.

‘After a while of it, I would ‘melt down.’ I always feel like the worst person in the world afterwards, so I try hard not to get to that point,’ Jordan explains.

Her advice to adults caring for children with autism is to find the cause of the meltdown and ask their child what they are feeling. By understanding the triggers, it becomes easier to avoid them.

The Medication Problem Nobody Warned Her About

When Jordan received her AuDHD diagnosis, she developed alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to mammalian products triggered by a tick bite. This allergy affects hundreds of thousands of people globally and has significant implications for medication access.

Most pharmaceutical capsules contain mammalian-derived gelatin, and many active ingredients are processed using mammalian byproducts. For people with alpha-gal syndrome, identifying mammalian-derived ingredients in medications can be complicated, and exposure can trigger a systemic allergic reaction.

Jordan’s experience with alpha-gal syndrome highlights the importance of understanding the ingredients in medications and seeking alternative treatments when necessary.

What Clarity Feels Like

Jordan’s diagnosis and subsequent understanding of her autism have had a profound impact on her life. She is now pursuing a graduate certificate in veterinary science and plans to continue her education.

‘Learning about yourself can help you cope with the world in every way,’ Jordan says. ‘The battle is never over. You will continue to learn about yourself and how to keep yourself grounded your entire life.’

The insight she describes as most impactful is surprisingly simple: ‘Realizing I’m not actually a bad person.’ The meltdowns, the perceived rudeness, and the years of guilt for things she could not control – a diagnosis did not undo any of those experiences, but it gave her a different way to understand them.