Comorbidity in autistic children
Co-existing conditions with ASC
Autism is a form of neurodiversity which affects how people see the world and how they communicate and interact. Autistic people will often, but certainly not always, experience some mental health challenges.
It is estimated that around 70% of autistic people have one mental health condition (such as anxiety, ADHD, depression or OCD) and around 40% of the 70% will have more than one. Some of these mental health conditions begin in childhood and are sometimes referred to as co-occurring or co-existing conditions.
Early intervention can be extremely effective at limiting the effects of these co-existing mental health conditions. Watch our film which features an interview with Professor Emily Simonoff, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at King’s College London, to find out more about autism and co-existing mental health conditions.