AuDHD Assessments in Calgary
For children, teens, and adults who may
be living with both ADHD and autism
ADHD and autism are distinct diagnoses, but in the same person they rarely show up as two separate, tidy lists. Traits from one condition often mask, intensify, or get mistaken for traits of the other, which is exactly why a combined assessment matters.
More autism-leaning
Traits often linked to autism
A strong need for routine, predictability, and knowing what comes next
Deep, focused interests that bring real joy and expertise
Sensory sensitivities to sound, light, texture, or touch
A direct, literal communication style
Discomfort with unspoken social rules or small talk
Where the two overlap
Traits that can point to either, or both
Trouble with executive functioning, like planning, organizing, or shifting between tasks
Big emotional reactions and difficulty recovering from them
Sensory or social overwhelm that ends in shutdown, meltdown, or withdrawal
Masking or camouflaging in public, followed by exhaustion at home
Hyperfocus on preferred activities alongside real difficulty with non-preferred ones
More ADHD-leaning
Traits often linked to ADHD
Impulsivity in speech, decisions, or spending
Restlessness or a constant need for movement or stimulation
Forgetting appointments, items, or steps in a routine
Seeking novelty and getting bored quickly by repetition
Starting tasks with enthusiasm and struggling to finish them
How AuDHD tends to show up at different ages
The same underlying profile can look quite different in a six-year-old, a fifteen-year-old, and an adult who has spent years compensating for it. Bluebird Psychology assesses all three.
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Many parents describe a child who holds it together at school and then falls apart the moment they walk in the door at home, sometimes called after-school restraint collapse. That pattern alone can point to a child working hard to manage sensory and social demands all day, on top of attention and impulse control challenges.
Big meltdowns after school, even when teachers report few concerns
Trouble with transitions, combined with impulsive or high-energy behaviour
Intense, narrow interests alongside difficulty focusing on non-preferred schoolwork
Strong reactions to certain clothing, foods, or noise levels
Friendships that are intense but hard to keep going
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Adolescence raises the demands on both fronts at once. Executive functioning expectations jump (more planning, more independence) right as social and identity pressures intensify, and masking often becomes more effortful and more exhausting.
Growing anxiety or low mood that may be the more visible, secondary concern
Difficulty with time management, homework planning, and long-term projects
All-or-nothing engagement with hobbies, gaming, or special interests
Social exhaustion after school, or withdrawing from friend groups
Sleep difficulties tied to a busy or overstimulated mind
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Many adults who come to us have spent years being treated for anxiety or depression without anyone looking at the neurodevelopmental profile underneath. Others were assessed for one condition years ago and always sensed something else was part of the picture.
A long history of burnout cycles at work or in relationships
Years of masking that leave little energy left over at the end of the day
Trying countless organization systems that never quite stick
Sensory and social exhaustion that others don't seem to understand
A sense of having read every ADHD or every autism description and only ever feeling half right
Why assess for both together?
It gives you a complete picture, not a partial one
It avoids diagnostic overshadowing
When a clinician looks for only one condition, it's easy for every difficulty to get attributed to that one diagnosis, and for the other to be missed entirely. Looking at both from the start means nothing gets automatically explained away.
It explains why some strategies haven't worked
A reminder system that works beautifully for ADHD alone can feel overwhelming for someone who also has sensory or social overwhelm to manage. Recommendations that account for both profiles tend to actually get used.
It supports more accurate accommodations
When you have a clear picture of what’s going on, it leads to accommodations that actually help. A combined report can speak directly to both attention and sensory or social needs, rather than leaving one side unaddressed.
It can bring real relief
For a lot of people, learning that both are present is the first time a description of "them" actually fits. That clarity, on its own, is often described as a turning point.
The assessment process - What a combined AuDHD assessment involves:
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We review developmental, medical, learning, and social history together. For children and younger teens, this meeting is with a parent or guardian. Adults attend on their own, with a support person welcome if that feels helpful.
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The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) is a gold-standard assessment tool and involves a play- or conversation-based session that lets the psychologist directly observe communication style, social interaction, and flexibility of thinking, rather than relying on questionnaires alone.
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A focused conversation to explore autism-related traits in more depth, covering developmental history, sensory experiences, social communication, and repetitive or restricted patterns of behaviour or interest.
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You complete standardized measures for both attention and autism-related traits. Someone who knows you or your child well, such as a parent, teacher, partner, or close friend, completes an informant questionnaire as well.
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We meet again to walk through the results together and answer questions.
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You receive a written, strengths-based report with clear, practical recommendations for home, school, or work.
The fee for an ADHD and Autism starts at $3,120 CAD. You can learn more about our fees and assessment options here.
Not sure a combined assessment is right for you?
If you're confident that it's just one condition
Some families and adults come to us already fairly confident that only ADHD or only autism fits. If that sounds like you, our dedicated pages may be a better starting point, and we can always widen the assessment later if new questions come up. See below for more information:
ADHD Only
Adult ADHD Assessments
A focused assessment for adults whose primary concern is attention, focus, organization, or impulsivity.
ADHD Only
Child ADHD Assessments
For children and teens whose main challenges looks like inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity at school or at home.
Autism Only
Autism Assessments
For children, teens, and adults whose main questions are around sensory needs, behavioural rigidity, repetitive patterns, or social communication challenges.
Learning-focused
Psychoeducational Assessments
When the primary concern is around how a child or adult learns.
FAQs
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AuDHD is the everyday term people use to describe having both ADHD and autism at the same time. It isn't a separate clinical diagnosis on its own. It describes someone who meets criteria for both Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder, which research shows is far more common than most people realize.
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Yes. Before 2013, clinicians weren't permitted to give both diagnoses to the same person. That rule changed with the DSM-5, so a formal dual diagnosis has only been possible for a bit over a decade. Many adults who were only assessed for one condition years ago may have had both all along.
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No. Our AuDHD assessment looks at both conditions through one coordinated process, with a single intake, one set of sessions, and one integrated report, rather than two separate bookings.
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We assess children, teens, and adults. Appointments are available in person at our Calgary office.
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No referral is needed, we accept self referrals, so you can reach out and book a free consult whenever you are ready.
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That's a completely normal and still useful outcome. The assessment looks carefully at traits from both conditions and will tell you clearly which ones are present, whether that ends up being ADHD alone, autism alone, both together, or neither.
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Many extended health plans include coverage for psychological assessments. We provide a detailed receipt you can submit to your provider, and we'd recommend checking your specific plan for assessment coverage before booking. Reach out and we're happy to help you figure out what to ask your provider.
Let's talk before you decide anything.
A free consult is a short, no pressure conversation about what you are noticing, what you are hoping to understand, and which assessment option makes sense.
Have questions?
We’re here to help!
Email us: office@bluebirdpsychology.ca
Call us: (587) 288-6884Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with one of our psychologists here.
We are located at 277, 200 Rivercrest Dr. SE in Calgary, AB