Neurodiversity can be so complex! It can be challenging to identify the underlying symptoms that may be responsible for behavior. This can be frustrating for caregivers when they are trying to understand their child’s world and trying to support their needs. I hope to take some time to explore the differences between hyperfocus and special interest. Hyperfocus is a term that is commonly seen in ADHD individuals. I can recall my supervisor sharing that ADHD is not the difficulty with focusing but the ability to hyperfocus on areas the person prefers. It can be common to view this symptom of ADHD as a superpower, which it definitely can be, and also as a significant challenge. With any superpower comes an area of challenge or difficulty. Much like hyperfocus, individuals with special interests have the remarkable ability to become experts, though they can also experience some challenges.
Hyperfocus refers to an intense prolonged concentration on a single task or activity with the exclusion of everything else. Some characteristics of hyperfocus include intense focus, involuntary, short-term but lasting for hours, and focused on any task or activity whether it aligns with their interests. Even though it is characterized as short term it can last for weeks or months. Most often the person will find the activity stimulating and interesting.
In comparison, special interests refer to intense, long-term interests or passions that are often seen in Autistic individuals. This can be a sustained passion, desire to engage in the special interest, long-term in nature, and consistent focus. These special interests can last a lifetime. For a person who experiences special interests, they engage in behavior often to provide comfort, structure, predictability, and social connections.
The main differences between hyperfocus and special interest are typically the duration (long-term vs short-term), control (voluntary vs involuntary), and scope (task/activity specific vs non-specific task).
Sometimes these can be difficult to differentiate because some people have the ability to hyperfocus on topics but they are not necessarily special interests. For instance, an ADHD individual can find a new topic that they enjoy and hyperfocus on it for days, weeks, or even months. This would be considered a hyperfocus episode. They find out as much information they want about the topic and then they move on. In this instance, the person may not have a deep understanding but knows enough to talk about it and share thoughts and opinions. Someone with a special interest will likely know everything about the topic including all the facts. They seem to have more of a deep, comprehensive knowledge of the topic. ADHD individuals can also have special interests even though it is less common. Some of their special interest characteristics can also mimic hyperfocus episodes. The difference, once again here, is the duration, comprehensive knowledge, and purpose.
When trying to better understand if a person is experiencing special interest or hyperfocus on topics, I tend to ask a few questions:
- Is this a topic that the person will often talk about in an uncomfortable situation or a topic that they find themselves talking about in all social situations?
- Does this person have the ability to discuss other topics without prompting?
- How often does this person talk about this topic?
- Does the person have a deep understanding of the topic?