Natasha Smit - Clinical Neuropsychologist

21/09/2026

Autism is genetic. 🧬

12/09/2026

🌿 NEUROHUB SOCIAL GROUPS | TYGERVALLEY 🌿

We’re excited to introduce our small, informal social groups for tweens, teens and young adults.

Each group will have 8–10 participants, with registration on a first-come, first-served basis.

👩‍⚕️ Facilitated by: Natasha Smit, Neuropsychologist
📍 Branch: NeuroHub Tygervalley
💰 Cost: R240 per person (incl light refreshments)

These groups offer a relaxed space to meet others, connect, and build on social skills and confidence.

Our first groups will also help us better understand participants’ social needs and interests as we plan possible follow-up groups.

💌 If you’re interested in joining one of the groups, please let us know via email or whatsapp:
[email protected]
060 677 3798

07/09/2026

𝗔𝘂𝗗𝗛𝗗 | 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 & 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁

#4: The Science Behind AuDHD

Why do ADHD and Autism so often occur together?

Current research points to shared genetic and neurological pathways, with significant overlap in the brain networks involved in attention, executive functioning and social processing.

Research suggests that up to 80% of autistic people also meet criteria for ADHD, while 20–50% of people with ADHD show autistic traits.
These shared neurological foundations explain why AuDHD feels like a distinct experience rather than two separate conditions happening to occupy the same brain.

For many people, masking can also mean that one neurotype is recognised long before the other. A diagnosis of ADHD or Autism may only be followed by recognition of the second neurotype years later - often providing an important piece of the puzzle in understanding themselves.

28/08/2026

A conversation close to my heart 💛

A different kind of conversation this week. 💛

Natasha Smit - Clinical Neuropsychologist had the privilege of speaking to an 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 group hosted by Simonsberg Primary School.

The conversation centred around understanding autism — how the autistic brain experiences the world, and how that understanding can translate into meaningful support at home and at school.

We love seeing schools create spaces where parents feel supported, informed and empowered. What an incredible initiative by Simonsberg Primary School — and hopefully the beginning of many more conversations like these!

18/08/2026

😃👇💛

We’re so excited to be part of this!

📅 Monday, 24 August | 🕕 18:00
📍 Simonsberg Primary School, Kraaifontein

Everyone is welcome — and it’s completely FREE! 💙

17/08/2026

𝗔𝘂𝗗𝗛𝗗 | 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 & 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁

#3: AuDHD can sometimes feel like being pulled in two different directions at once ⬆️⬇️

AuDHD can sometimes feel like an internal push and pull between different needs, tendencies and ways of regulating attention, energy and sensory input. 🧠

Autistic traits may create a strong pull towards predictability, structure, calm and familiarity, while ADHD traits may create a need for novelty, stimulation, spontaneity and change. When these coexist, the result can be experiences that seem contradictory - but can make sense when we understand the interaction between the two.

‣You might crave routine but struggle to stick to it.
‣Need predictability but get bored with repetition.
‣Seek stimulation while also becoming overwhelmed by sensory input.
‣Crave connection but find socialising exhausting.
‣Overthink every possible outcome, then make an impulsive decision anyway.

This push and pull can make everyday decisions, routines, relationships and emotional regulation feel particularly complicated - and, over time, can contribute to overwhelm, exhaustion and burnout.

Importantly, these experiences aren't universal to every AuDHD individual, and they aren't simply a case of “autism doing one thing and ADHD doing the opposite.” Rather, the characteristics of both neurodevelopmental profiles can interact in complex ways, creating a unique experience where seemingly contradictory needs can coexist.

And sometimes, understanding the contradiction is the first step towards understanding the person. 🧠💛

13/08/2026

𝗔𝘂𝗗𝗛𝗗 | 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 & 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁

#2: Is AuDHD just Autism + ADHD?
Not quite.

Autism and ADHD are distinct neurodevelopmental conditions. ADHD does not fall on the autism spectrum, but there is significant overlap between the two - and a person can meet diagnostic criteria for both.

But having both isn't simply a case of “adding the two together.” 👩‍🏫

When the two profiles co-occur, they can interact in ways that create a distinct and sometimes complex neurodevelopmental profile.
You might see things like:

✨ I need routine… but struggle to stick to it.
✨ I can focus on something for hours… but can't seem to start the task I need to do.
✨ I love structure… but too much structure makes me feel trapped.
✨ I seek stimulation… but can also become completely overwhelmed by it.

These examples are not diagnostic criteria for AuDHD — and not everyone with co-occurring autism and ADHD will experience them. They simply illustrate an important point:

🧠 𝗔𝘂𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 “𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 + 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗.” The way the two profiles interact matters.

And this is why understanding the whole person, rather than simply ticking off traits, is so important in assessment and support.

12/08/2026

𝗔𝘂𝗗𝗛𝗗 | 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 & 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁

For a long time, autism and ADHD were treated as if they couldn't co-occur. This meant that when someone received one diagnosis, the other could easily be overlooked - particularly when their presentation didn't fit the stereotypes we traditionally associate with either brain wiring.

Today, we know that Autism and ADHD can co-occur.
You may hear the term 𝗔𝘂𝗗𝗛𝗗 used to describe this combination. It’s a useful shorthand for co-occurring Autism + ADHD, but importantly, AuDHD is not a separate diagnostic category in the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11.

And here's where it gets interesting…

Sometimes one diagnosis explains a lot - but not quite everything.

→ The need for predictability AND the pull towards novelty.
→ The ability to intensely focus AND the struggle to get started.
→ Wanting structure AND finding it incredibly difficult to maintain.
→ Seeking stimulation AND becoming overwhelmed by it.

These examples illustrate why looking at the whole picture matters.

✨ Bitesize takeaway:
Autism and ADHD aren't mutually exclusive. For some people, understanding both profiles provides a much more accurate explanation of how they experience, navigate and make sense of the world.

And that's exactly what we'll be exploring in this series. 🧠

04/08/2026

𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘂 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀.

The more you understand, the better you can support🧠

Join our practical 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 and equip yourself with the knowledge, confidence and practical strategies to better understand and support neurodivergent individuals.

📍 Fridays | NeuroHub Bellville
✨ Limited spaces available.

For more information or to book your spot, email 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼@𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗵𝘂𝗯.𝗼𝗿𝗴.𝘇𝗮

04/08/2026

🧠 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 #3

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗢𝗺𝗲𝗴𝗮-𝟯 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹?

The short answer? Absolutely.

Omega-3 is one of the most extensively researched nutrients in the world, with decades of evidence supporting its role in brain, heart and overall health. In fact, research from Harvard University identified low dietary omega-3 intake as one of the top 6 preventable causes of death.

One finding that particularly caught researchers' attention was that low blood omega-3 levels were associated with a reduction in life expectancy comparable to smoking. In the same study, people with a higher Omega-3 Index were estimated to live around five years longer than those with very low levels.

Even more striking? It's estimated that approx. 98% of adults have suboptimal omega-3 levels.

Maintaining healthy omega-3 levels through regular consumption or, where appropriate, a quality supplement, may be one of the simplest, most affordable investments you can make in your health 🐟💊