Understanding Multiple Diagnoses: Looking at the Whole Child

You’ve waited months—sometimes years—for answers. And then suddenly, the diagnoses start coming in thick and fast. Just like buses, you wait for one... and then several arrive all at once.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. It’s very common for autistic children to also receive additional diagnoses such as ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, anxiety, or sensory processing difficulties. For many parents and carers, this sudden wave of information can feel overwhelming.

But here’s what’s important to know: co-occurring conditions are more common than not.

A 2019 study found that up to 70% of autistic people have at least one other mental health or neurodevelopmental condition. And that number may be even higher when we consider those still waiting for full assessments or who have masked their traits.

There are several reasons this happens:

- Shared traits:Many neurodivergent conditions share overlapping features. For example, attention difficulties can be part of both ADHD and autism.

- Neurological links: These conditions often affect similar areas of the brain.

- Diagnostic boundaries aren’t always clear-cut: The criteria for different conditions often exist on spectrums, meaning that one child might show traits across several categories.

Personally, my first diagnoses were dyslexia and dyspraxia. Years later, I looked back at those original reports and realised how closely they mirrored the current criteria for an autism diagnosis. What looked like separate “conditions” were really all parts of the same neurodivergent profile.

When you begin to understand how interconnected neurodivergent conditions are, you can approach your child’s care with a holistic mindset. It’s not about collecting labels—it’s about gaining clarity.

If your child has one diagnosis, stay open to the possibility that there may be others. A comprehensive evaluation with a professional who understands overlapping traits can help you make sense of your child’s strengths, challenges, and how they experience the world.

Whether your child has one diagnosis or several, they are still the same brilliant, unique individual they’ve always been. Each label might help explain a different piece of the puzzle, but together they make up one whole picture—your child’s unique way of thinking, learning, and being.

One of my favourite quotes on this subject comes from neurodevelopmental researcher Christopher Gillberg:

"The co-existence of disorders—the rule rather than the exception—means that the child must be seen as a whole person, not as a case of ADHD, a case of autism, or a case of OCD."

At the heart of it all, your child is not a list of conditions—they’re a whole person, with a unique neurological profile, full of potential. Understanding that helps us offer better support, more meaningful connection, and a sense of acceptance that every child deserves.

You don’t need to figure it all out at once. Keep asking questions. Keep learning. And above all, keep seeing your child for who they truly are—not just what the reports say.