Co-Occurrence

More than one thing

If you are neurodivergent, there is a good chance you have traits of more than one condition. This is called co-occurrence - and it is far more common than most people realise.

You might have ADHD and autism. Or dyslexia and dyspraxia. Or Tourette's, ADHD, and OCD together. The combinations are many, and each creates a unique experience.

How common is co-occurrence?

Co-occurrence is the rule, not the exception.

• DLD commonly co-occurs with ADHD, dyspraxia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia.
• Dyslexia and dyspraxia frequently overlap, sharing executive functioning challenges.
• Our online community - connect with others who understand
• Ask a Counsellor - private, confidential guidance

A 2024 study published in World Psychiatry from Queen Mary University of London proposed a "transdiagnostic framework" - the idea that neurodevelopmental conditions are better understood as overlapping neurological differences on a spectrum, rather than distinct, separate disorders.¹

Common combinations

ADHD and autism ("AuDHD")

This combination is increasingly recognised and discussed. People with both ADHD and autism often describe an internal tug-of-war: the ADHD craves novelty and stimulation while the autism needs routine and predictability. The compounded vulnerability is significant - particularly for mental health.

Dyslexia and dyspraxia

Both conditions affect processing and executive functioning, but in different domains. Together, they can make tasks involving reading, writing, and motor coordination especially challenging.

ADHD and dyslexia

Attention regulation and language processing overlap in ways that compound difficulties with reading, organisation, and sustained focus.

Tourette's, ADHD, and OCD

This triad occurs frequently. Managing the interplay between tic suppression, attention difficulties, and obsessive-compulsive patterns requires integrated understanding.

Any combination and mental health conditions

Anxiety and depression are not separate from neurodivergence - they are often a consequence of it. Each additional neurodivergent condition increases the likelihood of mental health difficulties.

Why co-occurrence matters for mental health

Compounded risk

Each additional condition does not simply add to the challenge. The effects compound. A person with ADHD and autism does not face "ADHD difficulties plus autism difficulties." They face a distinct, combined experience - greater than the sum of its parts.

Diagnostic overshadowing

One condition can mask another, leading to partial or missed diagnoses. Autism may be overlooked in someone whose ADHD is more visible. ADHD may be missed in someone whose autism is the focus of attention. Dyslexia and dyscalculia are often missed entirely when a more "prominent" condition is present.

The "not quite fitting" experience

People with multiple neurodivergent conditions sometimes feel they do not fit neatly into any single community. They might be "too ADHD for autism groups" or "too autistic for ADHD support." This sense of not belonging compounds isolation.

Fragmented services

The diagnostic system and support services are often structured around single conditions. You see an ADHD specialist, or an autism specialist, or a dyslexia assessor - but rarely someone who understands the whole picture. This leads to incomplete assessments, conflicting advice, and people falling between services.

The whole picture

neurobetter believes in understanding the whole person, not one condition at a time.

If you have more than one condition, you deserve support that recognises the full picture - not a series of separate boxes to tick.

Getting the right support

Asking for a broader assessment

If you have been diagnosed with one condition but suspect there is more going on, you can ask for a broader assessment. Bring your concerns to your clinician, and be specific about the traits that do not fit your existing diagnosis.

Finding professionals who understand co-occurrence

Look for clinicians, therapists, and services that take a holistic view. A therapist who understands both ADHD and autism, for example, will offer very different support from one who only sees one condition.

Self-advocacy

You are the expert on your own experience. If your support does not match your reality, say so. Advocating for a fuller assessment or more integrated support is your right.

neurobetter resources

• ADHD, Autism, and other condition pages - understand individual conditions
• Getting a diagnosis - navigating the assessment system
• Masking - how co-occurrence complicates recognition
• Our Local Services directory - find integrated support near you