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Hiding beneath a full face mask - nothing to do with Covid 19

NAS74907

Hi, I am wondering if anybody has come across the wearing of a face mask as some form of comfort?  My 17 year old son, diagnosed with Aspergers wants to wear a mask to hide his face.  He has created a design which contains aspects of things he likes and wants to wear it when he is outside.  He starts college tomorrow and I am panicking.  Is this to do with Autism? Is it to do with problems he had at school (socialising with others and 'torturing' by teachers).  I want to let him be himself, but I am worried about the reaction of others - both staff and fellow students.

Any help info or suggestions?

Parents

  • I'm quite conflicted about face coverings.

    I find if my face is covered in public I can relax a little bit more - I don't have to concentrate on my facial expressions and I can stim my beard with my tounge. It's also a physical representation of the social mask that I (and many autists) wear in anyone elses presence... so there is some comfort in this also.

    However I don't like speaking to people if I can't see their face... I struggle to understand how a person is reacting to me at the best of times, and removing the blatently obvious smile/frown hints doesn't help.

    Until covid it wasn't really an option for me to cover my face as it would make me stand out (and as an un-diagnosed autistic I desperately wanted to fit in). I do remember a certain enjoyment wearing my motorcycle helmet or balaclava when at the snow.

    Unfortunately I find the covid style face masks very restricting and uncomfortable, so I delight in ripping it off as soon as I leave the supermarket.

    In summary I don't think it's an issue at all if wearing a mask makes him feel comfortable when having to be around other people.

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  • I'm quite conflicted about face coverings.

    I find if my face is covered in public I can relax a little bit more - I don't have to concentrate on my facial expressions and I can stim my beard with my tounge. It's also a physical representation of the social mask that I (and many autists) wear in anyone elses presence... so there is some comfort in this also.

    However I don't like speaking to people if I can't see their face... I struggle to understand how a person is reacting to me at the best of times, and removing the blatently obvious smile/frown hints doesn't help.

    Until covid it wasn't really an option for me to cover my face as it would make me stand out (and as an un-diagnosed autistic I desperately wanted to fit in). I do remember a certain enjoyment wearing my motorcycle helmet or balaclava when at the snow.

    Unfortunately I find the covid style face masks very restricting and uncomfortable, so I delight in ripping it off as soon as I leave the supermarket.

    In summary I don't think it's an issue at all if wearing a mask makes him feel comfortable when having to be around other people.

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