CO-OCCURRING CONDITIONS

Conditions That Frequently Co-occur with Autism

Most autistic people have at least one co-occurring condition. Understanding each condition separately from autism leads to better, more targeted support.

This page is for informational purposes only. It is not medical or diagnostic advice. Please consult a licensed professional for evaluation and diagnosis.

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

Estimates vary with how studies are designed.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting attention regulation, impulse control, and activity level. It comes in ...

Anxiety Disorder

A 2011 meta-analysis found that 39.

Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, panic disorder, and s...

OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

A 2019 meta-analysis of clinical diagnoses found OCD in about 9% of autistic people, and a 2011 meta-analysis found OCD in 17.

OCD involves intrusive obsessions (unwanted thoughts, images, or urges) that cause distress, and compulsions (repetitive...

Depression

A 2019 meta-analysis found that 23% of autistic adults currently had a depressive disorder and 37% had one at some point in their lives.

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent low mood, loss of interest, fatigue, cognitive changes, and in...

Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders

In a 2013 study of 5,815 autistic children, the average prevalence of epilepsy was 12.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures, episodes of uncontrolled electrical activity i...

Dyspraxia / Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

In a 2020 SPARK study of 11,814 autistic children aged 5 to 15, 86.

DCD affects the planning and execution of coordinated physical movements. It impacts fine motor skills (handwriting, usi...

Hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

A 2016 Swedish nationwide study found that people with EDS had 7.

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) are chronic connective tissue condi...

Gastrointestinal Issues

A 2014 meta-analysis in Pediatrics found autistic children had about four times the odds of general GI symptoms compared with other children, with higher rates of diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.

Common GI issues in autism include constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, reflux, abdominal pain, and nausea....

Sleep Disorders

A 2010 review found sleep problems, particularly insomnia, in 40 to 80% of autistic children and teens, a higher rate than in typically developing children.

Autistic people have higher rates of insomnia, delayed sleep phase, night waking, and sleep-disordered breathing. A 2011...

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)

RSD is a term that comes mainly from ADHD clinical practice.

RSD is an intense emotional response to perceived or actual rejection, criticism, failure, or exclusion. People who expe...

Alexithymia

A 2019 meta-analysis of 15 studies found alexithymia in about 50% of autistic participants (49.

Alexithymia is difficulty identifying and describing one's own emotions. It is not the absence of emotion, it is a disco...

Sensory Processing Differences

Sensory processing differences are a core feature of autism.

Sensory processing differences refer to how the nervous system receives and responds to sensory input from the eight sen...

PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance Profile)

The PDA Society describes PDA as widely understood to be a profile found within some autistic people, rather than a separate condition.

PDA is an autism profile characterized by extreme, anxiety-driven avoidance of ordinary demands and expectations. People...

ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

A 2025 meta-analysis estimated ARFID prevalence in autistic groups at about 11%, with a wide range across studies, and found autism in about 16% of people with ARFID.

ARFID is characterized by restricted eating based on sensory properties (texture, smell, appearance, temperature), fear ...