Question on special interests?

[harry]

As somebody who both has autism and ADHD hyperfixations tend to be cyclical and intense but only for a couple days to months before another one cycles in.

What about ADD? The person I mentioned above might have ADD issues.
I think there is always something beyond ASD even if a person only have one psychological diagnosis.
ASD can explain a whole person even if a person doesn't even have what is called comorbidity.

 

[Darkkin]

ADHD and ADD are all part of the same neurotype. The term ADD has been out of date since 1988. The types of ADHD are:

Hyperactive
Inattentive
Complex: Which is a combination of inattentive or hyperactive type in conjunction with other issues like anxiety and depression.

And between 40 - 60% of ASDer have a comorbidity with ADHD.

Labels do not define interests, hobbies, deep dives, and fixations. These can grow and develop as the individual grows.

 

[harry]

ADHD and ADD are all part of the same neurotype. The term ADD has been out of date since 1988. The types of ADHD are:

Hyperactive
Inattentive
Complex: Which is a combination of inattentive or hyperactive type in conjunction with other issues like anxiety and depression.

And between 40 - 60% of ASDer have a comorbidity with ADHD.

Labels do not define interests, hobbies, deep dives, and fixations. These can grow and develop as the individual grows.

the person I mentioned in another post seem to be a bit depressed at times.
I don't think his ADD issues makes it easier for him to engage in his special interests. It's not always easy foe people with only ASD.

Why then do most people who talk about special interests say that it is easy to engage in them?
It confuses me. I don't actually see people who just enjoy their special interests.
Most people with ASD with whom I talk say that there is a lot of frustration even if the engage in their special interests. It's never "i'm so happy when I engage in my special interest!".
I never hear people tell me that unless I listen to podcasts or watch videos about ASD. I guess some people with ASD (or even experts without it) like to only mentioned the enjoyable side.
Tony Attwood does say that when a person engages in a special interests they feel happy and that it may be used as an escape from reality. I think that can be true for some people. Some can use a special interest in order to flee from the difficulties in life. Some can't as their special interests forces them to do deal with difficult things. Perhaps a person is not an expert at playing bass, ie it doesn't come that naturally, then a special interest won't be that enjoyable at times.

I guess most people with ASD a very good at dealing with the difficulties in their special interests and enjoy when things get difficult. I may only have met the few people who actually find difficulties not so enjoyable.
What do you say?

 

[Luca]

I thoroughly enjoy my special interests and they always make me happy. The only thing I really don't like about some of my special interests is that there are people in the communities related to them that are horrible. Nothing else really stands out as a huge issue for me.

My main special interest is the foundation of my career, and I would say the only thing that really causes frustration is managing the "people" aspect of it. But it's not enough for me to wake up every morning and be like "Ugh, I'm dreading going to work today!"
I completely enjoy what I do and it gives me a sense of purpose. But recognizing that I belong to a community that can be really toxic and has some really messed up people in it doesn't make my special interest any less fun or enjoyable. It's also not an interest that forces me to be social all the time.

I can't speak for everybody, but if you talk to other ASD people who have interests that are part of a community (or also fandoms, I guess) you will find that there are issues within those communities but it doesn't take the fun or the joy out of the special interest for me (and a lot of other autistic people.)
My guess is that when you're hearing ASD people express frustration about some of their special interests, some of it may be related to other aspects of the interest (like bad apples in the surrounding community, or financial expenses if it's a hobby that requires spending money, or having a hard time finding people with similar interests.)

I won't go into specifics about what my interests are because I don't want to derail this thread, but I have made lots of detailed posts on here about the things that ARE issues for me. Although I think it's still pretty clear to everyone on here that I am really passionate about my special interests and I truly enjoy them.

 

[harry]

I thoroughly enjoy my special interests and they always make me happy. The only thing I really don't like about some of my special interests is that there are people in the communities related to them that are horrible. Nothing else really stands out as a huge issue for me.

My main special interest is the foundation of my career, and I would say the only thing that really causes frustration is managing the "people" aspect of it. But it's not enough for me to wake up every morning and be like "Ugh, I'm dreading going to work today!"
I completely enjoy what I do and it gives me a sense of purpose. But recognizing that I belong to a community that can be really toxic and has some really messed up people in it doesn't make my special interest any less fun or enjoyable. It's also not an interest that forces me to be social all the time.

I can't speak for everybody, but if you talk to other ASD people who have interests that are part of a community (or also fandoms, I guess) you will find that there are issues within those communities but it doesn't take the fun or the joy out of the special interest for me (and a lot of other autistic people.)
My guess is that when you're hearing ASD people express frustration about some of their special interests, some of it may be related to other aspects of the interest (like bad apples in the surrounding community, or financial expenses if it's a hobby that requires spending money, or having a hard time finding people with similar interests.)

I won't go into specifics about what my interests are because I don't want to derail this thread, but I have made lots of detailed posts on here about the things that ARE issues for me. Although I think it's still pretty clear to everyone on here that I am really passionate about my special interests and I truly enjoy them.

So the special interest in itself cannot be the problem? Eg bass technique being too difficult?
If a person still engages in something even though it is difficult it is not really a special interests but something else?
If we shouldn't call it a special interest what should we call it?
I myself don't think it should be called a special interest as it not something done for enjoyment.
Some people just have to do something even though it gives them a lot of frustration. This is not a special interest then, right?

What is the defintion of special interests?

 

[Luca]

So the special interest in itself cannot be the problem? Eg bass technique being too difficult?
If a person still engages in something even though it is difficult it is not really a special interests but something else?
If we shouldn't call it a special interest what should we call it?
I myself don't think it should be called a special interest as it not something done for enjoyment.
Some people just have to do something even though it gives them a lot of frustration. This is not a special interest then, right?

What is the defintion of special interests?

Some special interests are difficult, yes. I’m a musician too. It can be hard. But I love making music.
I’m not saying everyone loves every second of their special interests but most people do enjoy them, at least mostly. But I did already say I can’t speak for everyone.

I think something that someone does constantly that is entirely frustrating and brings them no joy would be more like a compulsion than a special interest.

With special interests (speaking for myself but others here have described it this way as well) it’s more of a deep dive into a subject or hobby that you find really fascinating. Which for most people, I think does make them happy.
I think most people on this forum are proud of their special interests and love to share about them. There are lots of threads about special interests, both general and specific, that might interest you and maybe explain this better than I can.

 

[harry]

I think something that someone does constantly that is entirely frustrating and brings them no joy would be more like a compulsion than a special interest.

And that would require more than just looking at the ASD diagnosis? Or can compulsion be a part of ASD?

 

[Luca]

And that would require more than just looking at the ASD diagnosis? Or can compulsion be a part of ASD?

That would be more than just an ASD diagnosis although I think some autistic people do experience compulsive behaviors too (we do tend to fixate on things, after all), but it’s more typical of OCD. It can also be a coping thing for people with anxiety.

 

[Darkkin]

Special interests are a natural endorphine high. The activity is its own reward. And interests and the depth thereof are a spectrum just like ASD.

 

[harry]

Special interests are a natural endorphine high. The activity is its own reward. And interests and the depth thereof are a spectrum just like ASD.

As a person who hasn't experienced having a special interest I can say that I don't think I can every imagine how that feels like. Both people with NT and ASD can experience this but I've never done it. Endorphines may come at times but not like if it was a special interest.

Do we have a formal definition of special interest? or is it a term without a specific definition. It seems like special interest can mean different things depending of who uses the term. It confuses me. It doesn't sound like people use it to mean the exact thing. As a person who loves definition it is difficult when people can't define a term. That would never work if it happened when I study linguistics. You have to have clear definitions.
And do we know how many percent with ASD who have a special interest?

 

[Captain Jigglypuff]

My special interests are very specific but I typically don’t need to do any research for them unless I find a music box and buy it and I’m curious about the song it plays and if it’s a rare find or the maker is highly sought after by collectors. I just search for asking prices for similar music boxes and I’ve got some at incredible prices compared to what they are on sites like eBay. Drag queens and drag performance is easy to learn and observe by watching YouTube videos. The only thing that needs research is what make up to use and how to use it properly and how to style wigs without making them look like you just got out of a windstorm.

 

[harry]

That would be more than just an ASD diagnosis although I think some autistic people do experience compulsive behaviors too (we do tend to fixate on things, after all), but it’s more typical of OCD. It can also be a coping thing for people with anxiety.

I'm the guy who says "I just have to do this or that specific thing!". It's more like I just have to do it. It's not because I know that I will enjoy it. Pleasures will be a part of it but I will go through rough times of frustration.
What does it feel like to enjoy an interest so much that it is basically only pleasurable? It sounds lovely but then again it is nothing to strive for. It has its pros and cons.
Some say that whiskey and women are the pleasures of life. I think I can relate to that.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

DId Mozart have a special interest in music ? was he on the spectrum?

 

[tazz]

It is common for people (both neurotypical and otherwise) to have particular hobbies and areas of interest. In people with ASC, however, this may be significantly accentuated.

People with ASC modes of processing often have quite specific (sometimes esoteric) areas of particularly intense interest which to others may seem narrow and obsessional in nature. Extended and repeated engagement in such interests is often a key priority for people with ASC traits - something akin to a very strong instinct or an urge - to the extent that not being able to pursue them may be experienced as significantly unsettling and frustrating.

The definition of "special interest" is not related to ASC. Any English language dictionary will provide one:

Special: (of a subject) studied in particular depth.

Interest: an activity or subject which one enjoys doing or studying.

Note that "enjoys" can also apply to something that is challenging, difficult and sometimes frustrating, but this doesn't stop one pursuing that activity because on some level one enjoys the challenge and knows that there will be a pleasurable feeling eventually when the difficulty is overcome.

Clearly both neurodivergent and neurotypical people can have a special interest using this common definition.

The difference between someone with ASC and someone without ASC is the impact that the special interest (and particularly the inability to pursue the special interest) might have on that person's wellbeing.

Also note that ASC is a spectrum. Spectrum refers to the range of different ways that ASC is experienced. A diagnosis requires more than one symptom to be present, but not necessarily all. A special interest falls under the Restrictive and Repetitive Interests and Behaviours symptom-domain. Having a special interest alone does not mean one has ASC, even if it has a significant impact. And one can have ASC without any special interests.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

I am a Big Brother to a 17 year old boy who has consuming and obsessional special interests. He is otherwise technically proficient and has little interest in other things. I have been able to get him to open up a bit and now he enjoys short bike rides with me. He would like work in a firm contracting to maintain and replace traffic signals and has expressed interest in being a crew foreman. He is very naive and does not have an inkling of the demands of middle management. I fear he is quite one dimensional and have discussed the social demands of being a foreman/supervisor, having been in that position myself. He has never been challenged socially, is home schooled and his attachment is with an anime gaming character. I just hope that he can use his interests in a productive way to grow into a career.

 

[Kalinychta]

The “special interest” thing is very misunderstood among autistic people, possibly the most misunderstood symptom. I’m not even sure where that term came from. Here’s the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria:

Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g., strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interests).

When I was diagnosed, the behavior specialist told me about a little boy who was obsessed with vacuums, knew absolutely everything about them and wouldn’t really talk about anything else. A friend of mine‘s autistic ex-boyfriend is extremely into alchemy - he knows everything about it, practices it, thinks about it nonstop, etc.

Abnormal in intensity or focus is what distinguishes an autistic person’s interest from that of a normal person. And not all autistic people have this trait, which is why I think the term “special interest” is so misused and misunderstood.

 

[Gerald Wilgus]

The “special interest” thing is very misunderstood among autistic people, possibly the most misunderstood symptom. I’m not even sure where that term came from. Here’s the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria:

Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g., strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interests).

When I was diagnosed, the behavior specialist told me about a little boy who was obsessed with vacuums, knew absolutely everything about them and wouldn’t really talk about anything else. A friend of mine‘s autistic ex-boyfriend is extremely into alchemy - he knows everything about it, practices it, thinks about it nonstop, etc.

Abnormal in intensity or focus is what distinguishes an autistic person’s interest from that of a normal person. And not all autistic people have this trait, which is why I think the term “special interest” is so misused and misunderstood.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I've had many interests over my life, but only one stands out as significant. How does the universe work have always been obsessed with this follow the latest theories always quietly in the background? It's definitely abnormal in intensity 60 plus years never diminished. Even now I really enjoy watching u-tube videos on this This forum is the closest I have ever come to meeting others with similar interests. Had some interesting conversations.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Just got the latest issue of the Berczy Settlers Gazette, noticed that ran article that I had written was published within it.

 

[Misty Avich]

Some Aspies do tend to stereotype NTs as these very dull beings who have no interests in anything but gossip and socialising. Being surrounded by NTs all my life, I know for a fact that isn't true.

One person with autism online once pointed out that NTs aren't even interested in sport, they just like it on the TV in the background while they chatter amongst themselves, or that if they do talk about sports it's just used as a time filler and that they're not actually interested in it at all.*

I think that was the most untrue thing I had ever heard (unless that person hadn't met an NT before).


*Obviously this may apply to NTs who aren't interested in sport themselves, but this person actually meant the NTs that appear true sports fanatics.