The Autism and ADHD Service

26/09/2025

Living with both autism and ADHD (AuDHD) often means navigating a sensory world that feels loud, bright, chaotic and constantly changing.

Sensory overload can affect focus, mood, sleep, appetite, and emotional regulation. But with the right tools and support, it’s possible to feel more grounded and in control.

In this post, we’re sharing a few small, practical strategies that can help manage sensory overwhelm, at home, at work, or in school. Not every tip will work for every person but sometimes the smallest adjustment can make the biggest difference.

23/09/2025

Our statement on recent comments about Autism:

We are deeply concerned by Donald Trump’s recent comments about the “cause” of autism.

The statement is misinformed, not supported by evidence. Comments like this fuel stigma, create fear, and ignore what the science, and lived experience actually shows us.

The rise in autism diagnoses is not a crisis. It’s a reflection of:
• Better awareness and understanding
• Updated diagnostic criteria
• Improved tools
• And recognition of how autism presents differently, especially in girls, women, and those who mask

What’s dangerous is not the rise in diagnosis but the outdated belief that autism is something to be prevented or “solved.”

We believe autistic people are not broken. Autism is not a tragedy. Autistic minds bring innovation, empathy, and essential contributions to our communities.

We stand with the autistic community today and every day.

22/09/2025

It’s not always loud. It’s not always obvious and it doesn’t always look the way people expect.

For many neurodivergent adults, sensory overload is something they’ve lived with for years, often without having the words for it. It can look like:

▪The radio, the children, the kettle… all going at once and suddenly your skin feels too tight.
▪ Overhead lights flickering and you can’t focus on the person in front of you.
▪ Your clothes feel itchy or stiff and it’s all you can think about.
▪ Someone’s talking to you but it feels like you’re underwater.
▪ You can’t make a simple decision and feel like you might cry if one more thing happens.
▪ Needing to shut a door. Leave the room. Cancel the plans, just to breathe.

It doesn’t mean you’re being dramatic or you’re not coping. It means your brain and body are trying to protect you from too much, all at once.

Getting an assessment later in life isn’t about chasing a label, it’s about understanding yourself, looking back with clarity and moving forward with the right support. And for many adults, it’s the moment things finally start to make sense.

If this sounds familiar, we are the support that starts with listening.
📞 01843 663116

21/09/2025

We’re so pleased to now offer advice, support, and full private autism and ADHD assessments from our newest location:

📍 Waterloo Walk, High Street, Witney, OX28 6EU

We offer assessments from age 2+ right through to adulthood, and our team is here to guide you every step of the way, in a calm, supportive space.

To book: https://autismandadhdservice.com

17/09/2025

We all know the five main senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

But did you know there are three more that play a big role in how we feel, move, and respond to the world, especially for neurodivergent children (and adults too)?

These “hidden” senses affect so much, focus, emotional regulation, energy levels and how we cope with everyday life but they’re often missed, or misunderstood.

If your child seems sensitive to certain things, always on the move, or struggles with big emotions, this might be part of the picture. And if you relate to this as an adult, you’re not alone either.

16/09/2025

ADHD is so often seen through the lens of what’s hard, the impulsivity, the overwhelm, the forgetfulness, the big emotions. But here’s the part that doesn’t get spoken about enough...

👉 People with ADHD are often creative, full of original ideas and a natural ability to think outside the box.
👉They’re great at thinking on their feet, spotting patterns, and finding solutions in ways others might not even consider, especially when things are moving fast or there’s pressure.
👉And while focus can be hard in some situations, when something really grabs their interest, they can go into deep focus mode, learning quickly and diving right in with energy and passion.

Many people with ADHD feel like they’re too much for the world. But the truth is, they’re often trying to fit into spaces that weren’t built for them. When we stop trying to “fix” ADHD and start understanding it, everything shifts.

So if you’re sitting with questions, or wondering whether ADHD could be part of your child’s story, or your own, just know:
It’s okay to ask.
It’s okay to want clarity.

Message us or visit autismandadhdservice.com to get started.

14/09/2025

If you’ve been wondering whether you or your child is autistic, has ADHD, or simply needs more support but you don’t know where to begin, this is for you.

We know how overwhelming it can feel to start the process. The waiting lists. The questions. The not knowing. The fear of being dismissed.

That’s why we’ve made our diagnostic pathway as clear and supportive as possible, so you know exactly what to expect, and never have to walk this alone.

Kent | Essex | Cambridge | East Sussex | Oxford

12/09/2025

For so many people with autistic and ADHD, sleep doesn’t come easily. And it’s not because of bad routines, screen time, or lack of discipline. It’s deeper than that.

▫It’s the brain not producing melatonin until hours later than expected.
▫It’s a nervous system that’s still stuck in ‘on’ mode long after the lights go out.
▫It’s noise, light, fabric, and temperature that other people can ignore, but you or your child can’t.
▫It’s lying in bed with a brain that just. won’t. switch. off.
▫It’s anxiety. Masking. Burnout. Processing everything that happened during the day, when the world finally goes quiet.

And for neurodivergent people, that can take a little more time and a lot more understanding.

If this is your reality right now, you’re not alone. We see this all the time, and we’re here to help you make sense of it. https://autismandadhdservice.com/contact-us/

11/09/2025

We’re so proud of Mhairi, our Consultant Clinical Psychologist who works across our Cambridge and Essex clinics and is one of our most experienced clinicians.

But outside the clinic, Mhairi has recently taken on a very different kind of challenge… The Great North Run!

All to raise money for a cause close to her heart: Dogs Trust. She’s already raised an incredible £710 (and counting) for a charity that helps care for and rehome dogs across the UK.

We couldn’t be prouder, well done, Mhairi! Your commitment, both in and out of clinic, never goes unnoticed.

10/09/2025

We’re expanding this October. Our new clinic at the Maidstone Innovation Centre will be opening soon and bookings are now open.

We offer neurodevelopmental assessments for both children and adults, including support for:
✔️ Autism
✔️ ADHD
✔️ Combined AuDHD Assessments

Call us on 01843 663116 to book your appointment.

09/09/2025

Today is International FASD Awareness Day - our staff at The Autism and ADHD Service had a whole day of training in December 2024 by the National Organisation for FASD. We were honoured to learn so much from Dr Raja Mukherjee and the wonderful Sharon ❤️ who spoke with so much passion.

Our service is dedicated to continuous professional development - investing in staff teaching and training to ensure our clients receive the highest quality service and a wealth of expertise.

Here are some resources recommended to us during the training day.

This website is packed full of ideas to help you understand and own your diagnosis. It’s written with advice from adults and young people in the UK who have FASD and a whole team of experts and families.

08/09/2025

If you’ve been wondering whether your child’s development looks a little different, you’re not alone.

Autism can begin to show in subtle ways before age 3, but those early traits can vary from child to child, and often look different in boys and girls.

In the slides, we’ve shared some early signs to look out for. They’re not a checklist, just gentle indicators that might help you make sense of what you’ve been noticing.
Noticing differences isn’t about labels, it’s about understanding your child and finding the right support for them.

💬 If you're unsure what’s typical and what’s not, we’re here to help, we offer autism assessments for children aged 2 and up, you don’t need to wait until school age to seek support. Early understanding can make a big difference.