It’s not always easy to pinpoint a medical condition. As adults we sometimes need multiple professionals to diagnose a disorder, oridentify concurrent conditions to an issue. Children are even more difficult because they can’t always articulate the experiences they are going through as effectively. This goes even more so for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Neurodivergent children often experience a range of co-occurring conditions that can impact their daily lives and development. To provide effective support, it’s important to understand these conditions—such as anxiety disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and sensory processing disorder (SPD) and understand how to treat them as well as autism.

Here are ten ways these co-occurring conditions may show themselves in children with autism and how Monarch House’s Autism Toronto Clinic can help. .

1. Impulsivity

Does your child have a hard time holding back? Do they jump with both feet from one interest to the next without warning? Impulsivity is a sign of ADHD and can be particularly pronounced in children with autism. Some ways that ADHD manifests itself is when children interrupt conversations, act without thinking, or engage in risky behaviours. Combined with autism this makes social interactions much more challenging. This can sometimes lead to social misunderstandings and hurt feelings. We support many children with ADHD and autism and we can help you find some solutions. 

2. Attention Difficulties

At Monarch House, one of the things our occupational therapists, behavioural therapists, speech therapists, and psychotherapists look for is difficulty with focus. Children with autism and ADHD often exhibit significant challenges with attention. They may quickly jump from one activity to another and struggle to focus on tasks. The result of this is that they are frequently distracted (and distracting). This poses a problem in school as it leads to difficulties in following multi-step instructions and completing assignments.

3. Anxiety Symptoms

If your child is the type to worry about something and have a hard time letting it go, it may be cause for us to take a closer look. Manychildren with autism also experience anxiety, which can show itself as a general sense of unease or more specifically excessive concern about specific situations. Keep an eye out for physical symptoms such as headaches and stomachaches, especially when they sense that a change in routine or a certain social interaction is coming up.

4. Social Withdrawal

Many children with autism tend to steer away from social scenarios. On top of this, anxiety can lead to social withdrawal, where a child with autism may avoid interactions with peers or adults. This can be exacerbated by difficulties in communication and social cues, making it harder for them to engage in typical social situations.

5. Sensory Overload

We have looked at ADHD and anxiety and how it can amplify some of the behaviours found in children with autism. Another co-occurring condition is sensory processing disorder. While many children with autism have sensory sensitivities, this can be compounded by SPD. Beyond the usual, children with sensory processing disorder may experience heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli, such as bright lights, loud noises, or certain textures. The combination of autism with SPD can lead to shutdowns and meltdowns, particularly in environments that are overwhelming, like crowded hallways and busy classrooms.

6. Repetitive Behaviours

Another area that sensory processing disorder can manifest is in restricted interests and repetitive actions. Repetitive behaviours, common in autism, can be amplified further by this condition as well as by anxiety. One of the reasons they happen is because a child may be treating them as a coping mechanism to deal with overwhelming feelings. Repetitive behaviours also manifest as a way for the child to self-soothe in stressful situations. Our interdisciplinary staff is well experienced with autism, sensory processing disorders, and anxiety, and we can help you come up with a plan.

7. Difficulty With Change

Is your child resistant to change? Do they stick to their rituals obsessively, no matter what? Children with both autism and anxiety often struggle with changes to their routine. Increased anxiety and behavioural outbursts can occur if there are sudden shifts in plans. The resulting disruption and unease highlights their need for predictability and structure. Our occupational therapists, behavioural therapists, and speech therapists can help to restore some order.

8. Communication Challenges

Children with autism are also withdrawn to begin with, but this can be compounded with other co-occurring conditions like social anxiety. This can make existing communication difficulties even more cumbersome. For example, anxiety can hinder a child’s ability to express themselves, leading to miscommunication and, ultimately, frustration.

9. Behavioural Outbursts

At Monarch House, we look to find the root cause behind an outburst like a temper tantrum or a panic attack. There could be a lot going on just below the surface. Emotional regulation for children with autism is important to address in the face of co-occurring conditions. In particular, children experiencing a combination of autism and ADHD can manifest heightened emotional responses. This often results in behavioural outbursts like tantrums and yelling out. Our behavioural, occupational, and speech therapists look deeper into the episodes for rationale. They can be triggered, for instance, by sensory overload, frustration, or difficulty in managing impulses. Altogether, this makes it challenging for your child and complicates their interactions with others.

10. Sleep Disturbances

Does your child get a proper nine to ten hours of sleep every night? For many, co-occurring conditions like ADHD and anxiety can contribute to sleep difficulties in children with autism. Look for signs like  frequent awakenings, difficulty falling asleep, or waking up very early in the morning. These behaviours can make current daytime challenges even worse, for instance: attention and emotional regulation.

For effective support it is crucial to recognize the signs of co-occurring conditions in children with autism. At Monarch House we employ an interdisciplinary team of professionals including behavioural therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and psychotherapists to help identify the issues and understand how ADHD, anxiety, and sensory processing disorder can manifest alongside autism. Beyond our staff, it is imperative that parents, caregivers, educators, and healthcare professionals can tailor their strategies to meet your child’s unique needs. We adopt this holistic approach as our go-to. Ideally it can foster a supportive environment for children with autism Toronto, promoting development and well-being for all children facing these challenges.