Autistic masking may be an evolved survival response to social risk: useful for belonging, but costly when sustained over a lifetime.

Masking, sometimes referred to as camouflaging, refers to when someone hides who they are authentically in order to meet an expectation that does not align with their true self. In autistic and other ...

Individuals with autism may try to appear more “neurotypical” to protect themselves, but this often comes at a great cost to their mental health. “Autistic masking” or camouflaging refers to the ...

Autism masking involves consciously or unconsciously suppressing natural autistic traits, often to avoid stigma or fit in socially. While masking may provide short-term benefits in certain social ...

Over the last few years, thanks to incredible awareness campaigns and notable figures like Sia and Christine McGuinness sharing their experiences, the public's knowledge of autism has certainly grown ...

You might know someone who excels at their job but dislikes small talk, or a friend who replays conversations, worrying about ...

According to the experts we spoke to, some signs you might be masking include: ...

Many autistic people face challenges in their daily life while navigating a world made for neurotypical people. Think about a trip to your local cafe. You might have patrons crammed into small spaces, ...

One in 36 children in the United States has autism, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) — but many don’t learn they’re on the spectrum until adulthood. Those who grow up ...