{"id":7977,"date":"2026-11-10T00:00:30","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T00:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/what-does-high-functioning-autism-mean-2\/"},"modified":"2026-11-10T16:50:28","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T16:50:28","slug":"common-health-issues-associated-with-autism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/common-health-issues-associated-with-autism\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are the Common Health Issues Associated with Autism?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/4&#8243; el_class=&#8221;inner-left-sidebar-faq&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;More Answer For You&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/can-you-be-diagnosed-with-autism-as-an-adult\/\">Can you be diagnosed with autism as an adult?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/how-is-autism-evaluation-performed\/\">How Is Autism Evaluation Performed?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/what-happens-to-autistic-children-when-they-transition-into-adulthood\/\">What Happens to Autistic Children When They Transition into Adulthood?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/what-are-the-common-early-behavioral-signs-of-autism-in-young-children\/\">What Are The Common Early Behavioral Signs Of Autism In Young Children?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/how-do-people-with-profound-autism-communicate\/\">How Do People with Profound Autism Communicate?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/what-type-of-doctor-diagnoses-autism\/\">What Type of Doctor Diagnoses Autism?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/how-to-support-a-child-with-autism-in-the-classroom\/\">How to Support a Child with Autism in the Classroom?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/how-to-explain-autism-to-kids\/\">How To Explain Autism To Kids?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/can-people-with-profound-autism-talk\/\">Can People with Profound Autism Talk?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/what-is-profound-autism\/\">What Is Profound Autism?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/why-is-autism-more-common-in-males\/\">Why Is Autism More Common In Males?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;3\/4&#8243;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>The most common health issues associated with autism include gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, chronic sleep disturbances, epilepsy and seizure disorders, neuropsychiatric and sensory conditions, and co-occurring immune or metabolic problems.<br \/>\n<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]Most autistic children have at least one co-occurring medical or psychiatric condition. Autism affects how the brain responds to sensory information and controls certain body functions. As a result, different physical health issues can affect one another. If your child exhibits a sudden spike in meltdowns, self-injurious behavior, or sleep refusal, treat it as a medical issue first rather than assuming it is purely behavioral.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Gastrointestinal (GI) Disorders &amp; the Gut-Brain Axis&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]Gastrointestinal disorders affect a significant percentage of autistic children. This is because the gut contains 90% of the body\u2019s serotonin and communicates directly with the brain through the gut-brain axis.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Behavioral Signs Caregivers Need to Look For:<\/strong> The child arching their back, pressing stomach against furniture, biting wrist, or showing sudden bursts of aggression.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Chronic Sleep Disturbances&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]Between 50% and 80% of autistic children experience severe sleep disruption, compared to 20% to 30% of neurotypical children. Many autistic individuals naturally produce lower levels of melatonin (the hormone that helps regulate sleep) and may have changes in their natural sleep-wake cycle.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Behavioral Signs Caregivers Need to Look For:<\/strong> The child taking hours to fall asleep, frequently staying awake at night, and waking unusually early in the morning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Epilepsy &amp; Seizure Disorders&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]Epilepsy affects approximately 20% to 40% of autistic individuals, compared to just 1% to 2% of the general population. Seizures most commonly emerge during two distinct developmental phases \u2013 early childhood (under age 5) and early adolescence or puberty (around ages 10 to 13).[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Behavioral Signs Caregivers Need to Look For:<\/strong> In autistic children, seizures often show up as temporary loss of awareness in a subtle way, extreme fatigue, or sudden muscle jerks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Neuropsychiatric &amp; Sensory Conditions&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]Over 70% of autistic children have co-occurring neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions:<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Attention-Deficit\/Hyperactivity Disorder\u00a0 (ADHD):<\/strong> Differences in the ability to focus, control activity levels, and manage everyday tasks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Anxiety &amp; Phobias:<\/strong> Being constantly on high alert and finding it difficult to deal with unexpected situations, leading to intense fears, avoiding social interactions, or repeating certain actions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Understanding Body Signals &amp; Sensory Sensitivity:<\/strong> Difficulty recognizing body signals, such as hunger, the need to use the toilet, or pain, or being extra sensitive to lights, sounds, and textures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Metabolic &amp; Connective Tissue Factors&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Joint Flexibility &amp; Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS):<\/strong> Some autistic individuals may have unusually flexible joints. This can cause joint pain, tiredness, and difficulty with activities that require body coordination, such as walking, running, or climbing stairs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cerebral Folate Deficiency &amp; Mitochondrial Issues:<\/strong> Some children have folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAAs) blocking folate (Vitamin B9) transport into the brain or subtle mitochondrial energy imbalances that impact stamina and speech development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=&#8221;7979&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221; el_class=&#8221;faq-featured-image&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;How Folate Receptor Autoantibodies Can Cause Cerebral Folate Deficiency&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]A significant percentage of autistic children may have Cerebral Folate Deficiency Syndrome (CFDS), a condition in which the brain lacks sufficient folate (Vitamin B9) despite normal folate levels in the blood. This deficiency is often associated with Folate Receptor Autoantibodies (FRAAs), which can block folate from crossing the blood-brain barrier.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]When the brain does not receive adequate folate, it may cause neurological irritability and cognitive delays, potentially making it more challenging for a child to engage with and benefit from traditional behavioural therapies. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fratnow.com\/order-a-test-kit.php\">FRAT<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a> test helps identify these autoantibodies, offering insights into a possible biological factor contributing to a child&#8217;s developmental challenges.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]By addressing an underlying folate deficiency through targeted treatments, clinicians may help restore adequate folate levels in the brain. This biological support may help improve the child&#8217;s physiological readiness to engage with and benefit from behavioural and educational therapies.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;referance-sec&#8221;][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;References&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221; el_class=&#8221;referance-url&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ol class=\"mr-left-ol-40-list mr-left-ul-40\">\n<li>PubMed Central (Gastrointestinal Issues and Autism Spectrum Disorder) &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8608248\/\">https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8608248\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>PubMed Central (Does Serotonin in the intestines make you happy?) &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7659911\/\">https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7659911\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>PubMed Central (The relationship between autism spectrum disorder and sleep) &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8848524\/\">https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8848524\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>National Autistic Society (Epilepsy and Autism) &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autism.org.uk\/learn\/knowledge-hub\/professional-practice\/epilepsy-autism\">https:\/\/www.autism.org.uk\/learn\/knowledge-hub\/professional-practice\/epilepsy-autism<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Autism Research Institute (Autism and Co-occurring Conditions in Children) &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/autism-mental-health\/\">https:\/\/autism.org\/autism-mental-health\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Curious to know if your child has these autoantibodies?&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221;]<strong>Here\u2019s what you can do:<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTVCZnJhdGNhcmQlNUQ=[\/vc_raw_html][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;more-faq-sec-con&#8221;][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;More Answer For You&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text single_style=&#8221;&#8221; el_class=&#8221;more-questios-sec&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/can-you-be-diagnosed-with-autism-as-an-adult\/\">Can you be diagnosed with autism as an adult?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/how-is-autism-evaluation-performed\/\">How Is Autism Evaluation Performed?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/what-happens-to-autistic-children-when-they-transition-into-adulthood\/\">What Happens to Autistic Children When They Transition into Adulthood?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/what-are-the-common-early-behavioral-signs-of-autism-in-young-children\/\">What Are The Common Early Behavioral Signs Of Autism In Young Children?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/how-do-people-with-profound-autism-communicate\/\">How Do People with Profound Autism Communicate?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/what-type-of-doctor-diagnoses-autism\/\">What Type of Doctor Diagnoses Autism?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/how-to-support-a-child-with-autism-in-the-classroom\/\">How to Support a Child with Autism in the Classroom?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/how-to-explain-autism-to-kids\/\">How To Explain Autism To Kids?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/can-people-with-profound-autism-talk\/\">Can People with Profound Autism Talk?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/what-is-profound-autism\/\">What Is Profound Autism?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/why-is-autism-more-common-in-males\/\">Why Is Autism More Common In Males?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;more-faq-sec-con&#8221;][vc_column_inner][vc_raw_html]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[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Common health issues associated with autism include gastrointestinal disorders, sleep disturbances, epilepsy, ADHD, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, and other co-occurring medical conditions. Learn what parents should know.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Are the Common Health Issues Associated with Autism?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Common health issues associated with autism include gastrointestinal disorders, sleep disturbances, epilepsy, ADHD, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, and other co-occurring medical conditions. Learn what parents should know.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/autism.fratnow.com\/blog\/common-health-issues-associated-with-autism\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Are the Common Health Issues Associated with Autism?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Common health issues associated with autism include gastrointestinal disorders, sleep disturbances, epilepsy, ADHD, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, and other co-occurring medical conditions. 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