What is masking?
Masking is the effort that is put in by people with autism to appear neurotypical – to “fit in”. While masking is very apparent in autism, it is important to note that many other neurodiverse conditions e.g. ADHD etc involve masking too. Some examples of masking include:
- Forcing or faking eye contact during conversations
- Imitating smiles and other facial expressions
- Mimicking gestures
- Hiding or minimizing personal interests
- Developing a repertoire of rehearsed responses to questions
- Scripting conversations e.g., rehearsing phrases to use during a date
- Pushing through intense sensory discomfort including loud noises
- Disguising stimming behaviours (hiding a jiggling foot or trading a preferred movement for one that’s less obvious)
Why do people mask?
People mask for a variety of reasons, some of which include:
- Feeling safe and avoiding stigma
- Avoiding mistreatment or bullying
- Succeeding at work
- Attracting a romantic partner
- Making friends and other social connections
- Fitting in or feeling a sense of belonging /acceptance
- Social pressure to conform to social norms and expectations
How do people learn masking?
To mask, people must first learn social cues. Social cues are signals from the body, gestures or expressions of other people. They can be learnt from various environments and dynamics around us, some of which include:
- Watching people interact with one another
- Seeing various media sources with people interacting and functioning in activities of daily life
- Monitoring one’s own facial expressions and body language
- Rehearsing social cues that have been observed
- Researching societal norms and social rules
- Practicing appearing interested and/or relaxed around others
- Adjusting one’s tone of voice to match with others
Are there differences between children and adults in masking?
Autistic people of all ages tend to mask, and it can begin in early childhood. Often, masking behaviours are utilised in the environments most regularly visited by the person with autism. So, for example – masking often occurs –
For children:
- At school
- At day-care
- At birthday parties
- At the shops
- At family gatherings
- Any social occasions
- Places with a lot of people and/or a lot of sensory input (i.e., the movies)
For adults:
- In the workplace and/or whilst looking for work
- In romantic relationships and/or on dates
- At family gatherings
- Any social occasions
- During appointments or interviews
- In public places (i.e., the gym)
What are the consequences of masking?
There may be short term benefits of masking eg. feeling accepted, however the cost generally results in:
- Mental exhaustion resulting from continually hiding neurodivergent traits from others
- Emotional regulation difficulties – fatigue, meltdowns, increased irritability, depression, and anxiety from having to focus intensely
- Remaining overly silent whilst masking facial expressions if in over-stimulating environments to reduce panic attacks/meltdowns in public e.g., too much noise, too many bright lights, or feeling crowded by too many people around them
- Loss of identity – can’t be your real self.
- Additionally, masking may even be linked to an increase in suicidal behaviours (Cassidy et al. 2018)
- What is more, some people can mask so well that there is a risk of autism not being diagnosed and supported until later in life or at all
How to help others with Autism and their masking behaviours?
The best solution to reducing the need for people with an autism spectrum disorder to mask, is to spread awareness of how different we all are in our thinking and behaviour. When we know someone has autism, we are less likely to judge them harshly.
Therefore, if we all do our part in treating everyone with respect and kindness, whether someone communicates in neurotypical ways or not, we can work towards a world in which neurodiverse people are accepted as they are.
Embrace Neurodiversity: Embrace the concept of neurodiversity, which recognizes that every individual’s brain is unique and valuable, including those who are autistic. Understand that autism is not a deficit or a disorder, but a different way of experiencing the world. Appreciate the diverse perspectives, skills, and talents that neurodivergent individuals bring to our communities and workplaces.
Avoid judgment, assumptions, or stereotypes. Be patient and compassionate in your interactions. Create safe and inclusive spaces where neurodivergent individuals feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear of judgment or rejection.
Feel free to share this blog to help spread awareness and help autistic people who mask 😊
References:
- https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/autistic-masking#:~:text=Effects%20of%20masking&text=Autistic%20people%20who%20mask%20more,suicidal%20behaviours%20(Cassidy%20et%20al
- Cassidy, S., Bradley, L., Shaw, R. et al. Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults. Molecular Autism 9, 42 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4
https://www.healthline.com/health/autism/autism-masking#stages
- https://thespectrum.org.au/autism-diagnosis/?gclid=CjwKCAjwov6hBhBsEiwAvrvN6FlwVbPhdDLn6v92OqvZY3bK2f-lAxRBPJHJ81TPEXuCN1wTiLpIQhoCrywQAvD_BwE
