Why do people with autism have restricted interests?

Emerging research shows the chance of getting locked into these behaviours increases when routine structures of work, school and family decline. As the person’s world shrinks, the space left from these externally imposed structures can be taken up with restrictive and repetitive behaviours and interests.

What do people with autism like doing?

Many children with autism enjoy walking, running, jumping, bouncing, climbing and swimming. Many children with autism enjoy activities that make the most of using their senses, although some do not. They often prefer activities that make use of visual skills such as colour and shape matching and sorting.

What is a special interest in autism?

So a special interest is a therapeutic aspect of autism. It fulfills the autistic tendency for repetition and certainty allowing for lists and information to be collected and new facts committed to memory.

Can a person with autism get stuck on one thing?

While it is true that people with autism can get “stuck on” an area of special interest, it is rare for them to move onto something new or feel the need for change. This is an extension of repetitive behaviors characteristic of autism. 7  Relationships and Social Attachments

Is your autistic child’s interest spiraling out of control?

When intensity and focus on an activity excludes everything else in the person’s life, the interest may be spiraling out of control. It is not uncommon for an autistic person to focus for hours on end engrossed in their area of interest.

What do you look for in a typical autistic person?

A common interest if anything. I would also look for ‘cluster-interests’; there is a tendency for autistic people to not only have deep and often narrow interests, but their interests can range many topics, often relating in some way.