A child can have one and not the other. Sensory Processing Disorder is it's own diagnosis, and while many ppeople with autism have SPD, not all do. And not all people with SPD have autism.

However, being "on the spectrum" is another term for having autism. Then again, many diagnosis out there has a spectrum of it's own. Including SPD. SPD can range from mild to severe, can include or exclude certain senses. Think of a "spectrum of colors", it means many various colors... like autism can have many different stages, symptoms, degrees. But to just say, that a child is on the spectrum, many at the moment would assume Autism, and not consider other diagnosis. You have the Autism Spectrum and you have the SPD Spectrum, even Depression and Anxiety are illnesses on a spectrum..

While SPD and Autism are not the same thing, they often accompany one another.

Basically, autism as it is now classified as, is a wide spectrum. Some children are low function, some high functioning, some have Asperger's, and so on. There are technically three levels 1, 2, 3. Being from Needs support, needs a lot of support, and needing a great amount of support. A child on the spectrum that is non-verbal and has Rett Syndrom would most likely be considered severe autism and level 3. However, a child with Asperger's would be considered Mild autism and a level 1. Classic autism could range from mild to severe.

Autism is more of a social disorder, versus a sensory illness, that SPD is.

I've heard many people, on here, mention their child has Autism and SPD. If your daughter has been diagnosed with both Autism and SPD, then, technically, this is how how would explain it to doctors, or anyone else you wanted to inform of her diagnosis'.

Hope this helps clear it up a little.

Thank you for asking this, I get confused about sensory processing and Autisum because they have similarities.