When one diagnosis comes with others
When a child is diagnosed with autism, many parents begin to notice other challenges alongside it — things like anxiety, attention difficulties, mood changes, or behavioural concerns.
This is not uncommon. In fact, research shows that around 70% of autistic children experience at least one additional condition, such as anxiety, ADHD, or depression.
But a recent study brings a new way of understanding this. Instead of seeing these as separate conditions happening together, researchers suggest that many of these challenges may actually be deeply connected through how a child experiences and responds to the world.
A different way to understand autism
Traditionally, autism and other conditions are treated as separate diagnoses — autism, ADHD, anxiety, behavioural challenges. But this study suggests that these may not be completely independent. Instead, they may be linked through something called "approach and withdrawal behaviours."
Approach and withdrawal behaviours are the patterns of how a child moves toward or pulls away from people, activities, and new experiences — shaped by how they experience emotions, sensory input, and their environment. Researchers suggest these patterns connect autism to challenges like anxiety and ADHD, rather than treating them as separate conditions.
How a child moves toward things — people, activities, new experiences.
How a child pulls away or avoids things.
These patterns are shaped by how children experience emotions, sensory input, and their environment.
How these patterns show up in everyday life
Researchers found that certain behaviours in autism are closely linked to other challenges:
| Pattern | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Sensory sensitivities | Strong reactions to lights, sounds, textures or smells that feel overwhelming — and shape how children engage with their environment |
| Anxiety & emotions | Strong emotional reactions and high anxiety often link to difficulty with change, uncertainty or unpredictable environments |
| Attention & activity | High activity levels or movement differences may relate to attention difficulties — not random, but part of a connected pattern |
| Behavioural challenges | Difficulty with routines, transitions or perceived threats can manifest as behavioural responses — a form of self-regulation |
These are not random overlaps. They are part of a connected system of behaviours, where one pattern can influence another.
With FAIRY, your child is assessed as per DSM-5, powered by WHO's ICF framework, and enriched by domain-level behavioural patterns — to better support your little one.
Why this matters for parents
This changes an important assumption. Instead of thinking:
From: "My child has autism and anxiety."
To: "My child has a pattern of responses that affects multiple areas of development."
This perspective can feel more accurate — and often more empowering. Because it shifts the focus from labels to understanding what your child finds overwhelming, what they seek out, what they avoid, and how they regulate emotions.
Why development looks so different in each child
The study also highlights something parents often experience: no two autistic children are the same. This is because each child has a unique combination of behavioural patterns across:
- Sensory processing
- Emotional regulation
- Social interaction
- Activity levels
These patterns interact with each other, creating very different developmental profiles.
Moving toward better support
One of the biggest takeaways from this research: to truly support a child, we need to understand how their behaviours are connected — not just what labels they meet. This means:
- Looking at patterns across situations
- Understanding triggers and responses
- Observing how behaviours change over time
When we do this, support becomes more targeted and meaningful.
"What is my child experiencing — and how can I support them better?"
Autism is not just a checklist of symptoms. It is a dynamic system of behaviours, where emotional, sensory, and social experiences are deeply connected. And when we begin to see these connections clearly, we move closer to answering the question every parent really wants answered.
With the preliminary assessment, you can discuss all your concerns with the doctor while also understanding whether an advanced assessment may be needed.
Frequently asked questions
Why do many autistic children also have other conditions like anxiety or ADHD?
Around 70% of autistic children experience at least one additional condition, such as anxiety, ADHD, or depression. Rather than being separate conditions happening together, researchers suggest many of these challenges may be deeply connected through how a child experiences and responds to the world.
What are "approach and withdrawal behaviours"?
They're the patterns of how a child moves toward or pulls away from people, activities, and new experiences — shaped by how they experience emotions, sensory input, and their environment. Researchers suggest these patterns link autism to challenges like anxiety and ADHD, rather than treating them as separate conditions.
Why does autism look so different in each child?
Each child has a unique combination of behavioural patterns across sensory processing, emotional regulation, social interaction, and activity levels. These patterns interact with each other, creating very different developmental profiles from one child to the next.
How does understanding these connected patterns help with support?
To truly support a child, it helps to understand how their behaviours are connected rather than just which labels they meet — by looking at patterns across situations, understanding triggers and responses, and observing how behaviours change over time. Support then becomes more targeted and meaningful.