"Restricted Interests". Not a term I've seen used here, though it's very much one that exists in the neurological sense. Something that is far broader than the term "special interests" that most of us are more than familiar with.
One conclusion I can only draw from the following, is a sense that NT medical professionals have outlined such things implied as less-than-healthy, and in accordance with their neurological sensibilities rather than our own. So I understand why some of us on the spectrum might question just how valid this may- or may not be.
Quoted:
Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors may include:
- Inflexibility of behavior, extreme difficulty coping with change
- Being overly focused on niche subjects to the exclusion of others
- Expecting others to be equally interested in those subjects
- Difficulty tolerating changes in routine and new experiences
- Sensory hypersensitivity, e.g., aversion to loud noises
- Stereotypical movements such as hand flapping, rocking, spinning
- Arranging things, often toys, in a very particular manner
What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Learn about Autism Spectrum Disorder, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options and answers to common questions.www.psychiatry.org
The only thing is that DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 don't list the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder in the same way as that website describes.
