Published on 12, July, 2020
I’ve just read two posts re special interests being a large part of asd diagnostic criteria, I am diagnosed ASD recently as older adult and I don’t collect things or have subjects/ things I’d consider special interest, is there other examples of ‘special interests’ that can be different in some way or other ways to describe it? I know special interests can change over time, I’m very obsessive but not sure what category this comes into under diagnostic criteria and how I relate, any advice/ insight?
This is from Autism Hampshire:
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. Many obsessively watch soap operas and have an intense interest in celebrities.
https://autismhampshire.org.uk/about-autism/women-and-girls-on-the-autism-spectrum
Ok thanks for that Debbie, I appreciate it, I have a colleague who also late diagnosed like me and she’s the same as a mum and about her house like me maybe they’re seen as more ‘socially acceptable’ gendered qualities in females hence why more easily masked but yes we’re both very obsessive about those things to the point others don’t understand at all