Easy Read Module — Neurodevelopmental Conditions

 

 

Focus: Autism, ADHD, AuDHD, and Epilepsy

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🌈 Section 1 – What is Autism? (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Autism is a spectrum condition, meaning it affects people in many different ways.
• Some people were once diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, but this term is no longer used.
• Now all diagnoses are part of the autism spectrum.

What Causes Autism?

• The exact cause is not known.
• Research shows:
  • It can run in families
  • It is not caused by vaccines
  • It is not caused by parenting

Common Difficulties
People with autism may:

• Find it hard to make friends or understand social rules
• Struggle to express thoughts and feelings
• Have difficulty communicating clearly
• Feel stressed by changes in routine or environment
• Have sensory needs (sensitive to noise, touch, light, or smells)
• Need extra time to adjust to new people or places

Support Needs

• Education (school or home learning)
• Daily life skills (cooking, cleaning, shopping, budgeting)
• Personal care (washing, dressing)
• Emotional support (managing stress)

Other Conditions That May Occur

• ADHD
• Learning difficulties (dyslexia, dyspraxia)
• Anxiety or depression
• Other mental health conditions

Final Thoughts

• Autism is not an illness.
• It is a different way of experiencing the world.
• With support, autistic people can live full and happy lives.
• Everyone deserves understanding, respect, and acceptance.

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⚡ Section 2 – What is ADHD?

ADHD = Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• ADHD affects attention, energy, and impulses.
• Challenges may include:
  • Focusing or finishing tasks
  • Sitting still or staying calm
  • Thinking before acting

Common Signs
People with ADHD may:

• Forget things or lose items often
• Move around a lot or fidget
• Interrupt others or speak out of turn
• Be easily distracted

Support & Advice

• Break tasks into clear steps
• Give visual aids or reminders
• Be patient and understanding
• Collaborate with parents, carers, or support staff
• Recognize effort, not just results

Mental Health Link

• ADHD can be linked to:
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Sleep problems

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🔄 Section 3 – AuDHD (Autism + ADHD)

AuDHD

• Some people have both autism and ADHD.
• They may experience:
  • Difficulty with attention, focus, and social interaction
  • Trouble planning, organizing, and managing time (executive function)
  • Sensory sensitivities (noise, light, touch)

Similarities and Differences

Topic	Autism (ASD)	ADHD
Attention	May focus too much or miss surroundings	Distracted easily
Social Skills	Hard to understand social cues	May interrupt or talk too much
Repetitive Behavior	Likes routines and repetition	Not common
Hyperactivity	May be active, but not always	Very common, fidgeting
Sensory Sensitivity	Very common (noise, lights, touch)	Can occur, less common

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🧠 Section 4 – Epilepsy & Co-Occurrence

Epilepsy

• Caused by unusual electrical activity in the brain
• Leads to seizures, which are unpredictable
• Often co-occurs with autism

Key Facts

• Children with autism are more likely to have epilepsy (~30%)
• Intellectual disability increases risk
• Some seizures, like absence seizures, may look like daydreaming or inattentiveness

Support Tips

• Keep seizure diaries
• Ensure safety planning
• Work closely with healthcare professionals

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❓ Easy Read Quiz / Knowledge Check

1. Which are early red flags for autism?
   a. No babbling by 12 months
   b. Lack of eye contact or smiling back
   c. Loss of speech or social skills at any age
   d. All of the above ✅
2. Sensory sensitivities (covering ears, picky eating) are common in:
   a. Only ADHD
   b. Only epilepsy
   c. Autism ✅
3. What does AuDHD mean?
   a. A type of epilepsy
   b. Having both autism and ADHD ✅
   c. A severe form of autism
4. Adult ADHD symptoms include:
   a. Frequently losing keys or wallet
   b. Extreme focus on one topic for days
   c. Difficulty waiting in conversations
   d. All of the above ✅
5. True or False: Adults with ADHD can hyperfocus on tasks they enjoy.
   • ✅ True
6. Approximate risk of epilepsy in autistic children vs general population:
   a. The same
   b. 5 times higher
   c. 30 times higher ✅
7. Which seizure type may be mistaken for inattentive ADHD?
   a. Tonic-clonic
   b. Absence seizures ✅
   c. Myoclonic
8. True or False: Intellectual disability increases epilepsy risk in autism.
   • ✅ True
9. Which is considered neurodivergent?
   a. Autism, ADHD, and epilepsy ✅
   b. Only autism
   c. Only epilepsy
10. Key shared symptom between ADHD and autism:
    a. High need for routine
    b. Executive dysfunction ✅
    c. Social anxiety

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