Other conditions that affect autistic people

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Symptoms of ADHD include:

People with ADHD may need extra support at school or work. Sometimes they need to take medicine.

Find out more about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Dyslexia and dyspraxia

Some autistic people have:

Extra support at school can often help.

Problems sleeping (insomnia)

Symptoms of insomnia include:

Changing your bedtime routine can often help.

Find out more about sleep and autism from the National Autistic Society

Mental health problems

Many autistic people have problems like:

These conditions can often be treated with talking therapies or medicines.

Learning disabilities

A person with a learning disability may find it hard to:

People with a learning disability often need help with daily life.

Find out more about learning disabilities

Epilepsy

Symptoms of epilepsy include:

Epilepsy can often be treated with medicine.

Find out more about epilepsy

Problems with joints and other parts of the body

Some autistic people may have:

These can be caused by conditions like joint hypermobility syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndromes.

You may need support from a range of health professionals, including a physiotherapist.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

  • you're autistic and think you might have another condition
  • your child is autistic and you think they might have another condition
  • you have another condition and think you might be autistic – if you already see a doctor for your other condition, you could speak to them instead

Page last reviewed: 4 October 2022
Next review due: 4 October 2025