Do autistic girls have special interests?

The interests of girls in the spectrum are very often similar to those of other girls – animals, horses, classical literature – and therefore are not seen as unusual. It is not the special interests that differentiate them from their peers but it is the quality and intensity of these interests.

How long do autistic special interests last?

Special interests can seem to arrive from nowhere and last for weeks, months or even years. One thing is fairly certain – when one interest ends it will be replaced by another.

Can you switch special interests?

Allowing for, but time managing special interests is the general consensus – as long as the interest itself is not dangerous or illegal – in which case an alternative must be found or professional help sought.

Can people with autism be extremely empathetic?

In the course of our studies of social and emotional skills, some of our research volunteers with autism and their families mentioned to us that people with autism do display empathy. Many of these individuals said they experience typical, or even excessive, empathy at times.

How long does an autistic special interest last?

What is a special interest in autism?

These “special interests” appear on the surface to be the same as many people’s hobbies. However, the important thing to remember, what makes it a special interest defined in the autism criteria has to do with focus and intensity.

Is woodworking a special interest for autistic people?

While there are many other topics that can be classified as special interests, these are just a few common ones we typically observe. Woodworking can be a perfect marriage with higher functioning autistic individuals because it’s very systematized and routine.

Is your autistic child’s interest spiraling out of control?

When intensity and focus on an activity excludes everything else in the person’s life, the interest may be spiraling out of control. It is not uncommon for an autistic person to focus for hours on end engrossed in their area of interest.

What is it like to be an autistic person?

It is not uncommon for an autistic person to focus for hours on end engrossed in their area of interest. The intensity of focus shuts out the world around them to the point that hours and days can go by without even a thought of eating. Interruptions are unwelcomed, and can cause feelings of anger to surface.