Do all people who have autism have a special subject

I don't at the moment. As a kid I collected electrical junk, then in my late teens I was a music geek, then it was cameras and music technology, but in between, and for the last few years, I haven't had any special interests. Like a lot of other autistic traits, they come and go.

I don't really have one interest I specialise in but had always liked to know what makes things "tick". I have random obsessions and will literally become an expert on the subject and it will consume me so much it can affect my work. It's usually some type of project and I end up spending money on it and buy everything regarding the subject to be fully prepared so I can execute it flawlessly. The obsessions are so focused I once decided to write a book on something but because it's all I think about it gives me a headache and can no longer think of it.... Then it rolls in to something else.

My current obsession is pharmacokinetics which was brought on by looking into to CBD.

Thanks I thought it was just me. I also have a low iq which I thought was wierd to 

Hi, I agree with extraneous in that it’s different for women. From the research that I’ve done our obsessions seem to be more extreme versions of an interest that most women would have rather than the classic obsessions with trains etc. Women’s special interests tend to change topic too over the years rather than remaining static, I know personally, I tend to spend a few years on one thing then move into something else.   Also when I have a special interest I research it a lot, when I was a child I would talk about it a lot. Obsessions I had as a child included my pet gerbils! (Think I bored the guy next to me senseless talking about them constantly when I was 9); Gymnastics (I used to practice for hours every night); Take That (there was not a bit of my bedroom or bedroom furniture not covered in posters of them). A few examples of special interests I’ve had as an adult Include ancient Egypt and the pyramids at Giza (Graham Hancock is the author of a few good books about them); The brain and Neuropsychology (probably why I did GCSE, A-level and BSc Psychology); Medieval/Tudor history (this combines with another long term interest of mine, books, I have over 3 tall bookcases of them and more in the loft!); jewellery making (I still make jewellery but it’s a hobby now not an obsession) and my current one is researching Aspergers (that’s been going for a few years now c/o only just diagnosed at the end of last year). Oh and I’m very ashamed to say I’ve had fixations on guys since I was about 6!! Does any of this sound familiar to you?

No. There are lots of autistic people that don't have one subject or obsession they really like or are really good at. It's just quite common.

I don’t either. I’m an avid gamer but I don’t know everything about gaming. 

I don’t think I do. I do love my football. But I wouldn’t say that is my special interest. I have played since I was 7–8 years old. Other people have told me that they way I talk about things is very good. But I don’t think that’s is it either 

I think it might be a bit different for women? Have a look on the strand 'serial obsessions' - I definitely have specialised subjects but they're woven into professional research. It's one of the reason's I change jobs all the time - I get obsessively interested in something, but mask it in professional respectability. The trainspotting stereotype probably doesn't apply to anyone and certainly not always to women. AS women are just as obsessive with their interests but often the things they get interested in don't get seen as 'geeky'. I think it's more about gender discriminatory ideas about what's 'interesting' or geeky. If, say, you got on a vegan kick and researched nutrition and cross-cultural vegan cuisines you'd just be cooking like a girl rather than geeking out like a clever boy reeling off, say, facts about classical literature? I say what's the difference? I think women are more actively discouraged from talking at length about things that interest them too. Are you sure you don't have any 'special' interests?