Special interest (autism)

Highly focused interests most common in autistic people

Autistic art depicting a special interest in cats

Special interests are highly focused interests common in autistic people.[1] They are more intense than typical interests, such as hobbies,[2] and may take up much of a person's free time. A person with a special interest will often hyperfocus on their special interest for hours, want to learn as much as possible on the topic,[3] collect related items,[4] and incorporate their special interest into play[5] and art.[6] Some interests are more likely to be seen as special interests if they are particularly unusual, specific, or niche.[2] Autism rights advocates and psychologists say this binary of acceptable "passions" and pathologised "obsessions" is unfair.[7][8] Terms like circumscribed interests,[9] obsessions, or restricted interests[10] have historically been used to describe special interests, but these terms are discouraged by autism rights advocates.[7]

Special interests are sometimes confused with hyperfixations.[11] Hyperfixations are typically short-lived periods of strong interest in a subject over a few days to months which are especially common in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,[12] while special interests are most common among autistic people and last for longer periods of time, typically years.[13][14]

## Occurrence and development

[edit]

Around 75–90% of autistic people develop a special interest,[4] with some studies claiming as high as 95%.[15] Special interests are often developed between one and four years of age but may not develop until adulthood.[4] Many special interests start in children as a fascination with a particular object (e.g. Thomas the Tank Engine) and later develop into an interest in a specific topic (e.g. trains).[2] A special interest may change over time or last a person's whole life.[16] A 2014 survey found that the average number of special interests an autistic person has is 2, and the average longevity is 13 years.[2] A 2021 pilot study found the mean number of current special interests reported was nine.[14]

Intense special interests were written about by French psychiatrist Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol in 1827.[17] They were tied to a condition today considered autism by Soviet child psychiatrist Grunya Sukhareva (Груня Сухарева) in 1925.[18][19][20] In November 1940, Lauretta Bender and Paul Schilder published a paper focused on the topic.[21] Bender and Schilder's contemporaries like Hans Asperger and Leo Kanner also wrote about the matter, which was important to the development of autism awareness.[2]

Special interests were later one of the traits listed when autism first appeared in the DSM-III in 1980.[2] Special interests are listed as a diagnostic trait of autism in the current DSM-5-TR, described as "highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g., strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interests)".[22] The ICD-11 lists special interests as part of a broader category in its diagnostic criteria, described as "persistent preoccupation with one or more special interests, parts of objects, or specific types of stimuli (including media) or an unusually strong attachment to particular objects".[23]

Common areas of special interests are transportation, animals, sports, and popular culture.[24]

## Engagement

[edit]

Engaging in special interests can bring autistic people great joy[25][26] and many autistic people spend large amounts of time engaged in their special interest.[27] In adults, engaging with special interests has been shown to have positive outcomes for mental health,[28] self-esteem,[29] and can be used to manage stress.[24]

Special interests can sometimes interfere with other areas of a person's life, such as school.[30] In children, incorporating a child's special interest into their education has been shown to improve learning outcomes,[16][29] increase attention on learning topics[31] and teach behaviours such as sportsmanship.[32] Students have been shown to write better when writing about their special interest compared to a control topic.[33] A 2022 study showed 25% of autistic people who worked had employment in their area of special interest and that adults with employable special interests may have better employment outcomes.[27] Special interests may lead people to become child prodigies or savants in their area of interest.[24]

### Social interaction

[edit]

Encouraging discussion of a special interest can help autistic people develop social skills[24] and help them find social communities.[34][35] Autism acceptance proponents encourage autistic people to embrace their special interests, as long as they are not interfering with other parts of a person's life.[36] Special interests can be used by autistic people as a way to understand the world and allistic people.[37]

Special interests may lead to social difficulties if the person does not want to discuss any other topic, and conversations may become one-sided[2] especially when infodumping.[38] Some special interests may be viewed as unusual, such as an interest in electricity pylons being seen as odder than an interest in horses or football teams.[24] Autistic people who are aware of this may deliberately stop themselves from talking about their special interest as a form of masking,[24] especially if they have been mocked for their interest in the past.[15] Other special interests may be seen as atypical for a person's age.[2][39]

## Examples

[edit]

Environmental activist Greta Thunberg has credited her success to her special interests.[40][41] She explained to The Guardian in 2021, "A lot of people with autism have a special interest that they can sit and do for an eternity without getting bored. It's a very useful thing sometimes...[if] you feel you have a purpose, then it can be something you can use for good, and I think I'm doing that now".[42]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Special interests". Ambitious about Autism. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Armstrong, Kimberly Ann (2014-10-17). "Interests in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder". summit.sfu.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
3. ^ https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/autism-children-special-interests/. Original release on April 29, 2024. Retrieved on May 19, 2024.
4. ^ a b c Caldwell-Harris, Catherine L.; Jordan, Chloe J. (2014-01-01). "Systemizing and special interests: Characterizing the continuum from neurotypical to autism spectrum disorder". Learning and Individual Differences. 29: 98–105\. doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2013.10.005. ISSN 1041-6080.
5. ^ Spiker, Michael A.; Lin, C. Enjey; Van Dyke, Marilyn; Wood, Jeffrey J. (May 2012). "Restricted interests and anxiety in children with autism". Autism. 16 (3): 306–320\. doi:10.1177/1362361311401763. ISSN 1362-3613. PMID 21705474.
6. ^ "Art and Identity on the Spectrum". YES! Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
7. ^ a b Bastow, Clem (2021-07-06). "If I wasn't autistic, would my encyclopedic knowledge of dinosaurs be a problem?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
8. ^ Krauss, David (2023-02-19). "De-Pathologizing the 'Intense Special Interests' of Autism". Psychology Today. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
9. ^ Porter, Noriko (2012-06-01). "Promotion of Pretend Play for Children with High-Functioning Autism Through the Use of Circumscribed Interests". Early Childhood Education Journal. 40 (3): 161–167\. doi:10.1007/s10643-012-0505-1. ISSN 1573-1707.
10. ^ Spiker, Michael A.; Lin, C. Enjey; Van Dyke, Marilyn; Wood, Jeffrey J. (2012-05-01). "Restricted interests and anxiety in children with autism". Autism. 16 (3): 306–320\. doi:10.1177/1362361311401763. ISSN 1362-3613. PMID 21705474.
11. ^ Huang, Claire (2022-08-31). "A Snapshot Into ADHD: The Impact of Hyperfixations and Hyperfocus From Adolescence to Adulthood". Journal of Student Research. 11 (3). doi:10.47611/jsrhs.v11i3.2987. ISSN 2167-1907.
12. ^ "Hyperfixation: What Is It & How to Manage It". Thriveworks. 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
13. ^ Wakeman, Caressa (2022-06-28). "May 14, 2024 | Neurodiversity in Engineering". Retrieved 2024-05-15.
14. ^ a b Nowell, Kerri P.; Bernardin, Courtney J.; Brown, Cynthia; Kanne, Stephen (2020-10-09). "Characterization of Special Interests in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Brief Review and Pilot Study Using the Special Interests Survey". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 51. Springer Nature: 2711–2724\. doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04743-6. PMID 33034785. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
15. ^ a b Bross, Leslie Ann; Huffman, Jonathan M.; Hagiwara, Mayumi (2022-01-01). "Examining the special interest areas of autistic adults with a focus on their employment and mental health outcomes". Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 57 (3): 289–305\. doi:10.3233/JVR-221218. ISSN 1052-2263.
16. ^ a b Davey, Lydia (2020-05-31). "Using the special interests of autistic children to facilitate meaningful engagement and learning". Good Autism Practice. 21 (1): 43–64.
17. ^ Walsh, Dermot (March 2014). "The birth and death of a diagnosis: monomania in France, Britain and in Ireland". Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. 31 (1): 39–45\. doi:10.1017/ipm.2013.65. ISSN 0790-9667. S2CID 73271161.
18. ^ Sukhareva DR. "Шизоидные психопатии в детском возрасте" [Schizoid psychopathies in children's age.] (PDF) (in Russian).
19. ^ Manouilenko I, Bejerot S (August 2015). "Sukhareva--Prior to Asperger and Kanner". Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. 69 (6) (published 31 March 2015): 479–482\. doi:10.3109/08039488.2015.1005022. PMID 25826582. S2CID 207473133.
20. ^ Zeldovich L (2018-11-07). "How history forgot the woman who defined autism". Spectrum | Autism Research News. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
21. ^ Bender L, Schilder P (November 1940). "Impulsions: A Specific Disorder of the Behavior of Children". Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry. 44 (5): 990–1008\. doi:10.1001/archneurpsyc.1940.02280110064004. ISSN 0096-6754.
22. ^ "Clinical Testing and Diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorder". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2025-05-08. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
23. ^ "6A02 Autism spectrum disorder". ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
24. ^ a b c d e f Winter-Messiers, Mary Ann (2007). "From Tarantulas to Toilet Brushes: Understanding the Special Interest Areas of Children and Youth With Asperger Syndrome". Remedial and Special Education. 28 (3): 140–152\. doi:10.1177/07419325070280030301.
25. ^ "How being a Titanic autistic helped me find my voice". ABC Everyday. 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
26. ^ Blackwater, Amelia (2024-04-13). "How I Experience Autistic Joy". The Mighty. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
27. ^ a b Bross, Leslie Ann; Huffman, Jonathan M.; Hagiwara, Mayumi (2022). "Examining the special interest areas of autistic adults with a focus on their employment and mental health outcomes". Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 57 (3): 289–305\. doi:10.3233/JVR-221218.
28. ^ Grove, Rachel; Hoekstra, Rosa A; Wierda, Marlies; Begeer, Sander (2018). "Special interests and subjective wellbeing in autistic adults". Autism Research. 11 (5): 766–775\. doi:10.1002/aur.1931. hdl:1871.1/d5c70844-3d23-4e71-8c5d-82533196b003. PMID 29427546.
29. ^ a b Bredlau, Maggie (2017). "From Railways to Radiators: How Support Teams Can Use Special Interests to Promote Success Among Individuals with Autism". Journal of Educational Leadership in Action. 5 (1). doi:10.62608/2164-1102.1047.
30. ^ "Obsessions and repetitive behaviour - a guide for all audiences". www.autism.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
31. ^ Wood, Rebecca (2021-01-02). "Autism, intense interests and support in school: from wasted efforts to shared understandings". Educational Review. 73 (1): 34–54\. doi:10.1080/00131911.2019.1566213. ISSN 0013-1911.
32. ^ Keeling, Katharine; Smith Myles, Brenda; Gagnon, Elisa; Simpson, Richard L. (2003). "Using the Power Card Strategy to Teach Sportsmanship Skills to a Child with Autism". Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. 18 (2): 105–111\. doi:10.1177/108835760301800204.
33. ^ Sivertson, Krista (2010). Stories from the Spectrum: How Special Interest Areas Affect Writing Quality for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Duluth, MN: University of Minnesota Duluth – via University Digital Conservancy.
34. ^ Long, Rebecca-Eli M. (2024). "Access Points: Understanding Special Interests Through Autistic Narratives". Autism in Adulthood. doi:10.1089/aut.2023.0157.
35. ^ Hobbs, Laura; Hartley, Calum; Bentley, Sophie; Bibby, Jordan; Lauren, Bowden; Hartley, Jackie; Stevens, Carley (2020). "Shared special interest play in a specific extra-curricular group setting: a Minecraft Club for children with Special Educational Needs". Educational and Child Psychology. 37 (4): 81–95\. doi:10.53841/bpsecp.2020.37.4.81.
36. ^ Zukor, Leslie A. (2023-04-27). "Autistic People Should Embrace Our Special Interests". The Mighty. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
37. ^ Moss, Haley (2020-04-02). "For Autistic People, Star Trek Can be a Lens Into the World". www.startrek.com. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
38. ^ https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2022/09/infodumping-in-autism.html
39. ^ Motokane, Christine (2024-04-30). "How Pressure to Be 'Age Appropriate' Can Harm Autistic People". The Mighty. Retrieved 2024-05-10.
40. ^ Silberman, Steve (2019-05-06). "Greta Thunberg became a climate activist not in spite of her autism, but because of it". Vox. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
41. ^ Ryan, Maggie (2024-04-12). "These 12 Celebrities With Autism Are Opening Up About Life on the Spectrum". SheKnows. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
42. ^ "Greta Thunberg: 'I really see the value of friendship. Apart from the climate, almost nothing else matters'". the Guardian. Retrieved 2024-06-16.

* v
* t
* e

Autism

Main|

* Causes
* Diagnosis
* Epidemiology
* Epigenetics
* Heritability
* History
* Memory
* Pathophysiology
* Sex and gender
* Societal and cultural aspects
* Therapies

Diagnoses|

* Pervasive developmental disorder
* Autistic disorder
* Asperger syndrome
* Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified
* Childhood disintegrative disorder
* High-functioning autism

Associated conditions
and phenomena|

* Alexithymia
* Anxiety
* LGBTQ identities
* Burnout
* Catatonia
* Masking
* Meltdowns
* Inertia
* Echolalia
* Echopraxia
* Emotional dysregulation
* Hyperlexia
* Infodumping
* Late talker
* Monotropism
* Nonspeaking
* Pathological demand avoidance
* Pronoun reversal
* Savant syndrome
* Special interests
* Stimming
* Sensory overload

Comorbid conditions|

* Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
* Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
* Avoidant personality disorder
* Anxiety disorder
* obsessive–compulsive disorder
* Bipolar disorder
* Developmental coordination disorder
* Developmental verbal dyspraxia
* Epilepsy
* Gender dysphoria
* Global developmental delay
* Intellectual disability
* Major depressive disorder
* Schizoid personality disorder
* Sensory processing disorder
* Sleep disorder
* Suicide
* Tinnitus

Associated syndromes|

* 22q13 deletion syndrome
* Angelman syndrome
* CHARGE syndrome
* Cohen syndrome
* Cornelia de Lange syndrome
* DiGeorge syndrome
* Down syndrome
* Fetal valproate spectrum disorder
* Fragile X syndrome
* MECP2 duplication syndrome
* Neurofibromatosis type I
* Noonan syndrome
* Multiple hamartoma syndrome
* Rett syndrome
* Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome
* Timothy syndrome
* Tuberous sclerosis
* Williams syndrome

Related issues|

* Ableism
* Autistic rights movement
* Critical autism studies
* Discrimination
* Double empathy problem
* Employment
* Multiple complex developmental disorder
* Neurodiversity
* Neuroqueer theory
* Peripheral neuropathy
* Reduced affect display
* Sanism
* Self-harm
* Suicidal ideation
* TEACCH program
* Twice exceptional
* Violence and autism

Controversies|

* Facilitated communication
* Lancet MMR autism fraud
* MMR vaccine
* Rapid prompting method
* Thiomersal
* Chelation
* Combating Autism Act
* Autistic supremacism

Diagnostic scales|

* Autism Diagnostic Interview
* Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule
* Childhood Autism Rating Scale
* Gilliam Asperger's disorder scale

Screening scales|

* Autism-spectrum quotient
* Childhood Autism Spectrum Test
* Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale

Lists|

* Autism-related topics
* Fictional characters
* Schools

Accommodations|

* Autism-friendly
* Curb cut effect
* Inclusive design
* Neurodiversity and labor rights
* Neuroinclusive design
* Sensory friendly
* Supported employment
* Universal design

* Category

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template