Camouflaging and masking in autism
Many autistic people learn to hide or compensate for their differences in social situations. This is called camouflaging — and it can make autism harder to recognise.
This is educational information, not a diagnosis. You can take the free, confidential screening.
Take the screeningWhat camouflaging, compensation and masking mean
Masking is deliberately concealing autistic traits — for example, forcing eye contact or suppressing self-soothing movements. Compensation and assimilation are learned strategies, such as rehearsing scripts or copying others, used to navigate social situations.
The underlying autistic profile does not change; only the outward presentation does.
Why it is more common in women and gender-diverse adults
Studies consistently find higher camouflaging in autistic women, and differences by gender identity and by when a person was diagnosed (Lai et al., 2016; McQuaid, Lee & Wallace, 2022).
Because camouflaging masks the traits clinicians look for, it contributes to later and missed diagnoses.
The mental-health cost of masking
Camouflaging is effortful and has been associated with stress, exhaustion, and more depressive symptoms (Lai et al., 2016). Stigma can further increase masking (Turnock, Langley & Jones, 2022).
How our screening reflects these experiences
Our autism self-report includes areas covering compensation, masking and everyday sensory experiences, so the profile you receive reflects these behaviours rather than only the traits visible to others.
References
- Lai, M.-C., Lombardo, M. V., Ruigrok, A. N. V., et al. (2016). Quantifying and exploring camouflaging in men and women with autism. Autism, 21(6), 690–702. Link
- McQuaid, G. A., Lee, N. R., & Wallace, G. L. (2022). Camouflaging in autism spectrum disorder: examining the roles of sex, gender identity, and diagnostic timing. Autism, 26(2), 552–559. Link
- Turnock, A., Langley, K., & Jones, C. R. G. (2022). Understanding stigma in autism: a narrative review and theoretical model. Autism in Adulthood, 4(1), 76–91. Link
Related
This page describes validated instruments and research for education only. It does not provide a diagnosis or medical advice. If you have concerns about your wellbeing, consider speaking with a qualified health professional. In the US, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available at any time.