2.7 Co-occurring Conditions 

‘Co-occurring’ is a medical word that just means other conditions that are likely to exist along with the main diagnosis, or biggest area of need. Neurodivergent individuals are often diagnosed with more than one condition, which frequently including other neurodivergent conditions. This interconnection can mean that a person with ADHD might also have dyslexia or that an autistic individual could be dyspraxic.

This list is not exhaustive, but some examples of non-neurodivergent conditions are:

Learning disabilities and learning difficulties – which affect the way that a person learns new things, and they may have difficulty understanding complex information, or coping independently.
Hypermobility – very flexible joints which may cause you pain.
Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of rare inherited conditions that affect connective tissue. Connective tissue provides support in skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, internal organs and bones. www.ehlers-danlos.com/eds-types
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – chronic tummy pain, cramps and diarrhoea. www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel- syndrome-ibs/further-help-and-support/
Epilepsy – a neurological disorder which can cause seizures or unusual sensations. https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/

Reference: Gillberg, C. (2010). The ESSENCE of Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Conditions: Rethinking Co-morbidities, Assessment, and Intervention. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.