Hyperfixation or Special Interest? Understanding Passion in ADHD and Autism

Jun 10

Author: Mokshvi Shah, BS Northeastern University Student

Published: June 2025

When Deep Focus Isn’t a Problem. It’s a Pathway to Joy and Meaning

If you’ve ever found yourself completely immersed in a topic, project, or hobby, losing track of time, forgetting to eat, and feeling completely alive in the process, you might have experienced something known as hyperfixation or a special interest. For people with ADHD and autism, these intense focuses aren’t just quirks. They’re core parts of how many neurodivergent minds engage with the world. And while they can sometimes be misunderstood or pathologized, they’re often sources of joy, creativity, comfort, and even healing.

What Is a Special Interest?

In autism, a special interest is a long-standing, highly focused passion for a specific subject. It might be anything from dinosaurs to train schedules, coding languages to historical fashion, or a very specific TV show to celestial navigation.

Special interests are:

Deep, consistent, and often lifelong
Joyful and soothing
Rich in detail and knowledge
Sometimes misunderstood by neurotypical peers
Often a key part of identity and emotional regulation

Far from being a “problem,” special interests can be a source of connection, confidence, and expression.

What Is Hyperfixation?

Hyperfixation is more commonly associated with ADHD (though it can show up in autism too). It’s an intense, often short-term state of hyperfocus on an activity, topic, or task, sometimes to the exclusion of everything else.

It might look like:

Binge-reading 10 articles on a topic in one night
Playing a game for hours without realizing how much time has passed
Writing, building, or creating non-stop until physical needs are ignored
Obsessively thinking about something new for a few days or weeks
Then suddenly… losing interest and moving on

Hyperfixation is part of how ADHD brains regulate attention, by latching onto stimuli that feel engaging or rewarding. It’s not always intentional, and it’s not about being “undisciplined,” it’s just how the brain is wired.

Special Interests vs. Hyperfixation: What's the Difference?

Special Interest (Autism)

Duration : Long-term, often lifelong
Depth of focus: Deep, sustained over time
Emotional connection: Deeply meaningful and calming
Purpose: Exploration, comfort, identity
Challenges: May be socially misunderstood

Hyperfixation (ADHD)

Duration: Short-term, can be fleeting
Depth of focus Intense, but can burn out quickly
Emotional connection: Euphoric, urgent, time-blind
Purpose: Stimulation, escape, novelty
Challenges: May disrupt routine or self-care

But here's the important part: both are valid and real expressions of neurodivergent passion.

The Problem Isn’t the Passion. It’s the Shame.

People with special interests or hyperfixations are often made to feel:

“Too much”
“Obsessive”
“Immature”
“Distracted”
Or that their interests aren’t “useful enough”

This kind of messaging can lead to shame, masking, and self-doubt. But the truth is, these passions are often sources of joy, learning, and connection. They deserve space and respect, not ridicule.

How Therapy Can Help

In therapy, we don’t ask you to tone it down, we help you lean into your passions safely and sustainably.