{"id":6290,"date":"2017-06-05T07:00:40","date_gmt":"2017-06-05T14:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/?p=6290"},"modified":"2017-06-01T15:13:54","modified_gmt":"2017-06-01T22:13:54","slug":"anxiety-autism-adhd-sensory-processing-disorders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/anxiety-autism-adhd-sensory-processing-disorders\/","title":{"rendered":"Anxiety in autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorders"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Tara Hunkin on the upcoming Autism, ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder Summit<\/a>\u00a0and share my expertise on anxiety since we so often see anxiety in this population. My topic is: Anxiety\u2019s Role in ASD, ADHD and SPD and how nutrient therapy can help.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I start out sharing some of the research on the incidence and connections.<\/p>\n

This 2009 paper Sensory Overresponsivity and Anxiety in Children With ADHD<\/a>\u00a0in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, reports that:<\/p>\n

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Approximately 25% of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a comorbid anxiety disorder.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The purpose of this particular study was to determine whether sensory overresponsivity (SOR) or sensory processing disorders are related to increased anxiety in children with ADHD. There were twenty-four children between the age of 6 to 10 with ADHD and 24 children without ADHD.<\/p>\n

The study concluded that:<\/p>\n

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Children in the ADHD + SOR [sensory over responsivity] group were significantly more anxious than both the ADHD-only and non-ADHD (control) groups.<\/p>\n

Occupational therapists treating children with ADHD and SOR should be aware that these children may also have anxiety and discuss options with families for prevention or treatment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I would add that anyone working with these children should be aware of the connections: doctors, nutritionists, psychologists and anyone else on the health team.<\/p>\n

We also discuss this 2012 paper, also from the American Journal of Occupational Therapy – Sensory Overresponsivity and Anxiety in Typically Developing Children and Children With Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Cause or Coexistence?<\/a><\/p>\n

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Reviews of the coexistence of ASD [autism spectrum disorder] and anxiety disorders have concluded that among children and youth with ASD, anxiety disorders are highly prevalent, clinically significant, and varied as to specific type of anxiety disorder<\/p>\n

Approximately 25% of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also have anxiety disorder, a rate that is elevated when ADHD is seen in conjunction with conduct or oppositional defiant disorders<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The paper mentions these 3 factors as models worthy of further study in order to understand the relationship between anxiety, sensory overresponsivity, autism and ADHD:<\/p>\n

(1) anxiety caused by, or a symptom of, SOR (primary anxiety model);
\n<\/em>(2) SOR caused by, or a symptom of, anxiety (primary SOR model); and
\n<\/em>(3) the presence of both anxiety and SOR, linked by way of another factor<\/em><\/p>\n

Based on what I know about anxiety I feel it could be a combination of all of the above.<\/p>\n

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My interview also covers the following around how to address the anxiety in these children and their moms (who also often have anxiety):<\/p>\n