ADHD and autism

ADHD and autism: hyperfocus, special interests – how are they diagnosed?

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Hyperfocus vs special interests in autism, ADHD and AuDHS. How are they diagnosed individually in neurodiversity? Diagnoses, symptoms, differences, similarities and help for those affected.

ADHD and autism: hyperfocus, special interests – how are they diagnosed?

🧠 TL;DR – The most important information in 30 seconds

Special interests (autism) = long-term stable, identity-forming, deeply rooted
Hyperfocus (ADHD) = dopamine-driven, temporary, changing
Both appear similar from the outside – but arise from completely different mechanisms
In AuDHS, both patterns occur simultaneously
Both are often overlooked in diagnostics – especially in masking
Special interests are not a problem, but a neurobiological resource

What are special interests in autism – and why do they go far beyond a hobby?

The word "hobby" rarely fits.

When autistic people talk about their special interests, they describe something of an intensity that neurotypical people can hardly imagine.

A special interest is:

a deep, long-term preoccupation with a specific topic
e.g. railways, historical events, astronomy or certain animal species
something that spans months or even years
a topic that fundamentally shapes thinking, feeling and social interaction

People with autism do not perceive their special interest as a leisure activity, but as a central part of their identity. The autistic brain processes information on these topics with remarkable depth – details are stored, connections are recognised, and knowledge is systematically built up.

Those affected often say, "That's just who I am."

💡 Important: Special interests are rarely short-lived. While the ADHD brain can quickly jump from topic to topic, autistic people often remain loyal to their special interests for years. This is precisely one of the key characteristics that distinguishes them from hyperfocus.

What is hyperfocus in ADHD – a symptom that confuses those affected?

Hyperfocus is a phenomenon that often surprises people with ADHD themselves.

Suddenly, you find yourself sitting in front of your web browser for hours, buying your twelfth book on the same topic or spending an entire night mastering a game – and completely forgetting about food, social contacts and sleep.

Hyperfocus describes:

a state of exaggerated, almost compulsive concentration
on a task that currently seems exciting or rewarding
a tunnel from which it is difficult to free oneself consciously

The paradox: ADHD is known for its apparent inability to concentrate. How does that fit together?

The dopaminergic system explains it:

The ADHD brain is constantly searching for stimuli that release dopamine
When it finds an exciting kick – a new project, an urgent deadline – it focuses abruptly
This state feels like flow, but is difficult to control

💡 Crucially, hyperfocus is about activation, not the subject itself. What triggers hyperfocus today may no longer be exciting tomorrow.

Hyperfocus vs special interests: the key differences

	Special interests (autism)	Hyperfocus (ADHD)
Duration	Months to years	Hours to weeks
Stability	Long-term stable	Can change quickly
Motivation	Identity-forming	Dopamine-driven
Control	Consciously describable	Often surprising, difficult to control
After the end	Remains part of personality	Exhaustion, emotional emptiness

Difference in communication:

Autistic: Exchange about special interests is a genuine need – systematic, in-depth
ADHD: Topic changes quickly in conversation, even in the middle of hyperfocus

These patterns are individual – but clinically relevant for differentiation.

How the autistic brain processes special interests – a neuroscientific perspective

The autistic brain processes stimuli fundamentally differently from neurotypical brains.

What happens neurobiologically:

Stronger networks in specialised areas of the brain → deeper information processing
Pronounced bottom-up processing: details are captured intensively before an overall picture emerges
The brain literally builds up an internal expert system that is constantly growing

This explains why autistic people often accumulate remarkably detailed knowledge in their areas of special interest – knowledge that even experts find surprising.

Special interests as a protective function:

Buffer against sensory overload
Regulatory strategy for stress
Many autistic people invest in their special interests when the environment becomes too complex

💡 It is therefore a symptom that is also a resource – an aspect that is still too often overlooked in diagnostics.

Why do people with ADHD forget about eating, sleeping and socialising when they are hyperfocused?

Many sufferers describe hyperfocus as a pull that cannot be stopped.

The brain is so completely focused that nothing else is registered:

Hunger
Tiredness
Ringing telephones
Social obligations

What happens neurobiologically:

As long as the task provides dopamine, the ADHD brain sticks with it
Medication can influence this mechanism – but it is no substitute for a strategy
"Waking up" from hyperfocus can be abrupt and leave you feeling physically exhausted, hungry and disoriented.

"I'll just take a quick look" – and three hours later, you're still sitting in front of the same web browser.

⚠️ This is not a lack of willpower. It is a neurobiological pattern that can be influenced by the right strategies but is rarely completely controlled.

Are special interests and hyperfocus often overlooked in diagnostics?

Yes – and that's a serious problem.

Why are they overlooked:

They are often dismissed as mere enthusiasm or special talent
These symptoms are rarely recognised, especially in women and girls who are good at masking
The autism diagnosis often comes late in adulthood – after years of psychological stress, sometimes only after depression

The diagnostic problem:

ICD-11 and DSM-5 describe special interests as part of autism spectrum disorder
Hyperfocus in ADHD is less clearly anchored in the diagnostic system
Experts are therefore not always trained to classify the difference professionally

Masking makes it even more difficult:

Those who have learned to present their special interest as a "normal hobby" rarely receive an early autism diagnosis
Many initially suspect only ADHD – and only discover the autistic part of their neurodiversity much later

AuDHS – What happens when ADHD and autism coincide?

AuDHS is not simply a combination of two diagnoses – it is an internal contradiction.

The autistic system needs	The ADHD system seeks
Routine	Variety
Predictability	Novelty
Deep engagement	Rapid change

Both systems are active at the same time – the result is not a simple addition of symptoms, but a complex, intertwined dynamic.

What this means in everyday life:

A special interest can suddenly be intensified by ADHD hyperfocus
This sounds exciting at first, but quickly leads to exhaustion
Neither autistic depth nor ADHD hyperactivation allow for a real break
Social contacts and networks are often perceived as particularly stressful afterwards

Real-life example:

Someone with AuDHS has a long-standing special interest in astronomy – deeply rooted in autism. Then they discover a new app and fall into an ADHD hyperfocus for several days, which leaves them physically exhausted.

The special interest remains.
The hyperfocus passes

This interaction is individual – and requires support that understands both systems.

What patterns and symptoms help to distinguish autism spectrum disorder from ADHD?

Patterns typical of autism:

Strong attachment to routine
Difficulty with unexpected changes
Intense sensitivity to sensory stimuli
Finding social encounters exhausting – not due to disinterest, but because of cognitive demands

ADHD-typical patterns:

Impulsiveness and rapid shifts in attention
Strong need for stimulation and new input
Actively seeking social stimuli
Difficulty not interrupting conversations

Where it gets complicated – the overlaps:

Masking occurs in both
Sensory overload and exhaustion are common in both
In AuDHS, the symptoms are so mixed that even experienced diagnosticians have difficulty

💡 A diagnostic strategy that actively seeks both diagnoses – rather than assigning one by excluding the other – is therefore essential.

How can those affected cope with hyperfocus and special interests in everyday life?

For autistic people – using special interests as a strength:

Choose a career field that matches your special interest → long-term commitment, exceptional expertise
Understand the need for depth as a professional strength
Do not work against your interests – work with them

For people with ADHD, consciously use hyperfocus:

Recognise hyperfocus phases and use them in a targeted manner
Structured working conditions with clear deadlines and built-in variety
Use timer strategies to prevent physical exhaustion and forgotten meals
Medication as support – but not a substitute for adapting your environment

For all those affected:

Consciously integrate your special interest into your everyday life
Understand breaks not as a weakness, but as a necessary input for the system
Recognise that success does not come despite your own neurobiology – but with it

Neurodiversity and psychology: what does science say?

Psychology has fundamentally changed its understanding of neurodiversity.

What research shows:

Special interests were long considered abnormal – today we know that they fulfil an adaptive function
They strengthen self-efficacy, offer regulatory strategies and enable exceptional expertise
Through their special interests, autistic people experience genuine neural regulation – a rarity in its intensity and consistency.

Hyperfocus revisited:

Previously seen as an uncontrollable symptom
Today: part of an individual's attention style
Through professionally guided approaches (e.g. schema therapy, mindfulness-based methods), both phenomena can be used as resources

The remaining problem:

Genuine expertise on AuDHS is still rare
Many affected individuals are diagnosed incorrectly or too late
Research is catching up – and with it, diagnostics that focus on strengths rather than deficits

📋 The most important facts at a glance

Special interests (autism): stable over the long term, identity-forming, deeply rooted – far more than a hobby
Hyperfocus (ADHD): dopamine-driven, temporary, changing – the intensity is real, but fleeting
Both arise from completely different neurobiological systems, even if they appear similar from the outside.
In AuDHS, both patterns can occur simultaneously and reinforce each other
Special interests and hyperfocus are often overlooked in diagnostics – especially in masking
Special interests fulfil an adaptive function: they regulate, protect and create exceptional expertise
Hyperfocus can be influenced with strategies (e.g. timers), but cannot be completely controlled
A professional diagnosis that actively seeks both disorders is crucial
Neurodiversity is not a deficit – it is about understanding and adapting your own system and living well with it