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Special Interests - they’re just interests

Geeky Gothic Guy

Probably gonna annoy a few people with this but I’m just irritated with reading the term “special” interests. They’re just interests. Why is there the need to have the word special? Not once have I ever referred to my interests as “special” They’re just my interests. By referring to interests as special, just seems like there’s this need to feel, well, special. 

Parents

  • You could put any word in front of interest, and it would still be just an interest, regardless of how intense that interest is. There doesn’t need to be another word in front, It’s just an interest. Having a passion in something would be a better way of describing a “special” interest. We can’t use that wording of course, because that would make us sound too “normal” and not “special” enough.
     

  • in reply to Geeky Gothic Guy

    Maybe not all autists have "special" interests that are all consuming? We just have normal interests instead, I know that an all consuming interest is thought to be a defining characteristic of autism, but just reading posts on this forum, I don't think thats true.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    TheCatWoman said:
    Maybe not all autists have "special" interests that are all consuming? We just have normal interests instead, I know that an all consuming interest is thought to be a defining characteristic of autism, but just reading posts on this forum, I don't think thats true.

    You’re quite right.

    Having special interests (which is also how the ICD-11 and DSM 5 diagnostic manuals refer to them, by the way), is one of the behaviour-related criteria that does not necessarily need to be met in order for a diagnosis of autism to be given (as long as enough of the others are).

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  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    TheCatWoman said:
    Maybe not all autists have "special" interests that are all consuming? We just have normal interests instead, I know that an all consuming interest is thought to be a defining characteristic of autism, but just reading posts on this forum, I don't think thats true.

    You’re quite right.

    Having special interests (which is also how the ICD-11 and DSM 5 diagnostic manuals refer to them, by the way), is one of the behaviour-related criteria that does not necessarily need to be met in order for a diagnosis of autism to be given (as long as enough of the others are).

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