Autism and ADHD together
Autism and ADHD often occur together. Overlap can confuse families and schools. Here is how they differ, how both can be true, and what to ask for in assessment and support.
What testing is and what it finds
Health and genetic testing
Genetic testing cannot diagnose autism. What it can do is find an underlying condition with its own health risks and its own screening plan.
Anxiety in autistic children and teens
Anxiety is extremely common alongside autism and is treatable. It often shows up as rigidity, avoidance, stomach-aches, or meltdowns around uncertainty — not only as worry talk. Here is how to recognise it and what to try first.
ADHD and other conditions that often occur with autism
About three in four autistic children have at least one other condition alongside autism. Many of those are treatable — and they often drive the hardest days more than autism itself.
Autism diagnostic codes — DSM-5, ICD-10, insurance
Reports and bills use different coding systems. DSM-5-TR is how many US clinicians describe the diagnosis. ICD-10 codes often appear on insurance claims. Here is how to read both, what DC:0–5 is, and how to use documentation when services are denied.
Getting a child assessed for autism — what actually happens
An autism assessment is not an online questionnaire. It is a structured process based on developmental history and direct observation. Here is how to start, what to expect, and what to do while you wait.
M-CHAT-R screening explained — what it is and what it is not
The M-CHAT-R is a short parent questionnaire used to screen toddlers for autism-related social communication concerns. It is not a diagnosis. Here is how the tool works, what risk bands mean, what the follow-up interview adds, and exactly what to do next.
Medication for autistic children — what it can and cannot do
There is no medication that removes autism. Medicines can help sleep, ADHD, anxiety, seizures, or other co-occurring conditions. Here is a plain-language frame for decisions with your clinicians.
Losing skills — developmental regression
When an autistic child loses words, toileting, or other skills, treat it as a medical and developmental signal — not only a behaviour phase. Here is what to watch and what to do.
Seizures and lost skills — act quickly
Most of this site tells you what can wait. This page is the exception. Suspected seizures and clear loss of skills need prompt medical attention.
Anxiety, depression, and burnout in autistic youth
Autistic teenagers face high rates of anxiety and depression, and many describe burnout after years of masking. Here is what parents can watch for, what helps day to day, how school should respond, and when to get urgent help — without treating distress as ‘just autism.’
Genetic testing, explained without the jargon
Testing cannot diagnose autism — your child already has that answer. What it can do is find an underlying condition that carries its own health risks, its own screening plan, and occasionally its own treatment.
Why autism happens — what we know and what we do not
Parents ask this for good reasons. Autism has many contributing factors, mostly genetic. We still cannot point to a single cause for most children. Here is what that means for decisions you actually face.
Nothing in this hub matches that filter yet. Switch the age at the top of the page, or go back to everything in this hub — most of these pages apply across ages.