Autism & Related Conditions
(Co-occurring Conditions – NHS-Style Guide)
Many autistic people may also experience other conditions.
These are called co-occurring conditions.
👉 This means someone may need different types of support
🧠 1. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
🔍 Common Signs
- Finding it hard to concentrate
- Getting distracted easily
- Acting without thinking
- Finding it hard to sit still
💊 Support
- Extra support at school or work
- May include medication
- Helpful routines and structure
🧠 2. Dyslexia & Dyspraxia
📖 Dyslexia
-
Difficulties with:
- Reading
- Writing
- Spelling
🧍 Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)
- Clumsy movements
-
Difficulty with:
- Organisation
- Following instructions
🎓 Support
- Extra help at school
- Practical learning strategies
😴 3. Sleep Problems (Insomnia)
🔍 Symptoms
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking up during the night
- Waking up too early
💡 Support
- Consistent bedtime routine
- Calm, sensory-friendly environment
💬 4. Mental Health Conditions
Many autistic people may experience:
- 😟 Anxiety (feeling worried often)
- 😔 Depression (feeling low or hopeless)
- 🔁 OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
💡 Support
- Talking therapies
- Medication (if needed)
- Emotional support
🧠 5. Learning Disabilities
🔍 Difficulties with:
- Understanding new information
- Learning new skills
- Daily living tasks
💡 Support
- Help with everyday life
- Structured learning
- Ongoing support
⚡ 6. Epilepsy
🔍 Symptoms
- Seizures (fits)
- Staring into space
- Strange sensations (smell, taste, tingling)
💊 Support
- Medication
- Medical monitoring
🦴 7. Physical & Body Conditions
Some people may have:
- Flexible or painful joints
- Skin that bruises or stretches easily
- Ongoing stomach issues
👉 Linked to conditions like:
- Joint hypermobility
- Ehlers-Danlos syndromes
💡 Support
- Physiotherapy
- Medical support
💡 Key Message
👉 Autism is not just one thing
People may have:
- Multiple conditions
- Different support needs
- A unique profile
🧩 Some autistic people also have:
- ADHD
- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
- Sleep problems
- Anxiety or depression
- Learning disabilities
- Epilepsy
- Body or joint problems
💬 What this means
- Everyone is different
- People may need extra help
- Support can make things better
🌟 Important
- You are not alone
- You are not broken
- You just need the right support
🎓 PowerPoint Version
Slide 1 – Title
🧠 Autism & Other Conditions
Slide 2 – What Are Co-occurring Conditions?
- Conditions that happen together
- Very common in autism
Slide 3 – ADHD
- Focus difficulties
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
Slide 4 – Dyslexia & Dyspraxia
- Reading & writing challenges
- Coordination difficulties
Slide 5 – Sleep Problems
- Trouble falling asleep
- Waking up often
Slide 6 – Mental Health
- Anxiety
- Depression
- OCD
Slide 7 – Learning Disabilities
- Need help understanding
- Support with daily life
Slide 8 – Epilepsy
- Seizures
- Needs medical support
Slide 9 – Physical Conditions
- Joint pain
- Hypermobility
- Digestive issues
Slide 10 – Final Message
🌟 Everyone is different
🌟 Support makes a difference
🧩 Quiz Questions (Level 1)
1. What does “co-occurring” mean?
a) Rare
b) Happening together ✅
c) Not important
2. Which condition affects attention and impulsivity?
a) Dyslexia
b) ADHD ✅
c) Epilepsy
3. What is a common symptom of insomnia?
a) Sleeping too much
b) Difficulty falling asleep ✅
c) Eating more
4. Which condition affects coordination?
a) Dyspraxia ✅
b) OCD
c) Depression
5. True or False:
Autistic people can have more than one condition
✅ True
🎭 Role Play Scenario (Great for Training)
Scenario:
A student:
- Cannot sit still
- Struggles to write
- Feels anxious
- Is tired in class
👉 Discussion questions:
- What conditions might be present?
- What support could help?
- How should staff respond?
🗣️ Strong Training Message (Matches Your Voice)
👉 Don’t say:
“This is just autism.”
👉 Say:
“What else might this person need support with?”
No comments:
Post a Comment