At first glance, autism and EDS seem very different. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how someone communicates, processes sensory input, and experiences the world. EDS, especially the hypermobile type (hEDS), affects the body’s connective tissues. It can cause joint hypermobility, pain, fragile skin, digestive issues, and extreme fatigue.

The most common form—hypermobile EDS (hEDS)—is also the hardest to diagnose, since there’s no definitive genetic test. Many people with hEDS go years without answers, often told their symptoms are “just anxiety” or “normal growing pains.”

So why do these two conditions so often appear together?

While we don’t fully understand the connection yet, a 2018 study in Autism Research found that people with joint hypermobility were more likely to be autistic. And many autistic individuals report physical symptoms that overlap with EDS: chronic pain, sensory sensitivities that include the body (not just the environment), and difficulty sensing where their body is in space (proprioception).

Some researchers believe that shared genetics or differences in the nervous system might explain the link. Others think connective tissue differences might influence brain development and sensory integration. We don’t have all the answers yet, but the connection is becoming harder to ignore.

Unfortunately, diagnostic barriers are common. A child with joint pain and sensory overwhelm might be dismissed as dramatic. An autistic adult may struggle to explain physical pain in ways that doctors understand—especially if they mask their distress or have alexithymia (difficulty identifying feelings or body signals). People—especially women and AFAB individuals—often spend years being misunderstood or misdiagnosed.

When autism and EDS co-occur, care needs to be holistic and affirming. That means providers should recognize that chronic pain, fatigue, and sensory processing issues might all be part of one person’s experience. Treatment might involve occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, accommodations for mobility and sensory needs, and a trauma-informed approach.

Most importantly, we need to listen to the people living this. They often know more than the professionals trying to diagnose them.

The overlap between autism and EDS isn’t rare—it’s just rarely talked about.

Annabelle Denmark (she/they), MA, LPC is a therapist based in Lakewood, CO, They specialize in trauma informed (Parts work, EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy) individual therapy for neurodivergent adults and for adults with dissociative disorders

You can find them at https://www.renegadecounseling.com