Question: Sensory Processing Disorder and/or ASD?

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I am still learning about the co-morbids of ASD (of which I have many, including ADHD, GAD, MDD), and I have just learned about Sensory Processing Disorder. I was wondering:


Is it possible to have SPD and not have ASD?


I also have major issues with Executive Function, so that could just be a co-morbid, but also could be ASD. I have gone through a full circle of learning that I (think) I have ASD, and now, for the first time, I am doubting it. I think I may just have SPD. I don't know.

Could someone help me spell out some of the differences between the two? Also what it might be like to have both?

Thanks so much in advance! Your input and support means so much to me!

It is possible to have SPD without ASD. But SPD is not currently recognised by DSM5 as a distinct condition in its own right, so it is an informal diagnosis.

In DSM5, sensory sensitivity (SPD) is one of the "optional" diagnostic criteria for ASD, so if you meet the criteria for ASD AND you have sensory sensitivity (which matches one of those criteria), then that sensitivity is not technically a co-morbid, it is just another symptom of ASD. Most people with ASD have sensory sensitivity, so it is a normal part of the experience of having ASD for the majority of people on the spectrum.

ASD means *usually* having sensory sensitivity (informally known as SPD) as well as other characteristics: i.e impaired social interaction and communication, restricted or repetitive behaviours and interests. If you don't have those other characteristics, then you don't have ASD, just SPD on its own (or maybe you have some non-autistic condition like ADHD).

So it is possible to have SPD without ASD. And it is possblie to have ASD without sensory sensitivity (so-called SPD). Most people with ASD have sensory sensitivity. But there are other people with sensory sensitivity who have ADHD, OCD, or no other particular conditions besides their sensory issues.

Is it possible to just have SPD and not ASD; yes.

What's it look like?

-You know there's sensory processing issues, so that doesn't need to be discussed much directly
-Frequently issues with change; because trying to make sense of a world that that doesn't make sense is confusing. These get lesser with age/treatment of the SPD. (There are things to help SPD, though it'll always be there)
-Stimming does exist
-meltdowns
-Generally unless there is a reason associated with a sensory issue there is not issues with understanding sarcasm, emotions of other people, etc. However, issues with processing speech are common.
- Socially outcast because of being clumsy, and having weird preferences, either wanting too much or too little of things

Generally with SPD on its own; if it can't be tied back to a sensory cause it doesn't exist. All of those can be. They all exist. They're all pretty common. People with SPD are frequently BAP, and frequently show traits you associate with autism, except at subclinical levels, then take the "sensory issues" part of ASD and extend that into something that is able to be diagnosed as a disorder on its own.

What might it look like to have both?
75% of people with an ASD have diagnosable levels of SPD actually, so it looks pretty much like how you expect an ASD to look like. If you have an ASD as well, its having sensory issues bad enough that if they took away all other aspects of your ASD you'd still have something clinically impairing.

(It's worth note, SPD is also a common co-morbid of ADHD, don't remember those numbers off the top of my head though and don't feel like opening my kindle up to check them)