6 traits of “high-functioning” or high-masking autism in females

Note: At NeuroSpark Health, we do not use functioning labels in reference to autism. This article is meant to welcome and educate those who are using search engines to look up “high-functioning” autism in females. We support you.

The signs of autism are not always recognized by providers who don’t understand the nuances of the autism spectrum and the various manifestations. This can be especially true for women. Women are often overlooked in autism diagnoses for a variety of reasons. For women who mask their signs, unfortunately they may not receive the answers they need until they pursue evaluation with a trained diagnostician who specializes in identifying autism in women. While a formal autism assessment from a qualified, trained provider can be a life-changing step toward validation, there are some common signs that late-identified autistic women express, even if they are high-masking.   

Autistic people who can easily mask their autistic traits are sometimes called “high-functioning.” The term “high-functioning autism” is problematic and offensive in reference to autism in general. First, it is demeaning to people who have more support needs and implies that they are “low-functioning,” or less-than. Some autistic people on social platforms have compared functioning labels as if human beings are being equated to a piece of machinery (e.g., This car is not functioning. This computer is not functioning). It’s not a kind way to refer to real people living human experiences. Second, it implies that people who mask their autistic traits do not still have those traits. It also takes away from the experiences of autistics who may outwardly appear to have lower support needs, but are very much still experiencing valid and significant struggles that people don’t recognize. "High-functioning autism” in women is something that absolutely deserves discussion. However, it can be framed in a better way. High-masking is a more accurate term; it captures the way autistic individuals can conceal the signs of autism. High support needs and low support needs are some alternative terms to functioning labels, even though they still don’t capture the complexity of their experiences on the spectrum. It is vital to challenge outdated terms while shedding light on the complex and diverse experiences of autistic women. Overall, the best way to describe someone is to do exactly that — describe who they are, their individual strengths, differences, challenges, likes, dislikes, needs, and behaviors, without relying on a judgment-based label about how much they can or cannot achieve.

Traits of “high-functioning” or high-masking autism in women

• Social camouflaging — Social camouflaging is a common feature of high-masking autism. Camouflaging happens when an autistic person imitates the social behaviors of neurotypical peers. This can mask the true struggles someone is actually facing in a social situation. Camouflaging can be exhausting and detrimental to your mental health. If you can blend in with neurotypical people in a social setting and are very intentional about how you will be perceived by others, you may be camouflaging. Women with “high-functioning” or high-masking autism often excel at hiding their social difficulties.

• Intense focus — Autistic people frequently show intense and narrow interests. These are sometimes called “special interests” and usually delve deep into specific topics. Someone’s intense focus and passion can lead to exceptional knowledge and expertise in their area of interest. If an autistic woman takes special interest in something traditionally considered feminine, it may not be seen as a sign of autism. This is an example of how “high-functioning” autistic women can have their autistic traits overlooked. In this case, it can happen even without intentional masking. 

• Emotional sensitivity — Contrary to popular misconceptions, autistic people can be very emotionally sensitive and deeply attuned with others. “High-functioning” or high-masking autism in women can enable a deep understanding of others’ emotions. High-masking autistic women can be empathetic to the point of feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Empathy is stereotypically seen as a feminine trait in many cultures. Because of this, emotional sensitivity is less likely to be recognized as a sign of autism in a woman. 

• Difficulty communicating — Autistic women often struggle with social communication. As an autistic woman, it can be challenging to interpret nonverbal cues and grasp subtle social nuances. To adapt, autistic women may choose to communicate less. This retreat from social interaction is sometimes misinterpreted as being shy. This is especially true for autistic women; thus, autistic women can be overlooked easily. One-on-one autism coaching can help build confidence in your communication skills with others. This can allow you to shift away from using masking to cope with social situations.

• Sensory sensitivities — One of the most common signs of autism is sensory sensitivity. This can lead to sensory overload in environments with lots of different sources of external stimuli. Intense sounds, sights, smells and textures can be overwhelming and anxiety inducing. In environments with potential sensory overload, masking can be harmful. In these situations, healthy self-stimulation can be a good way to bring you comfort. Understanding and managing sensory input is crucial for your well-being.

• Masking and burnout — “High-functioning” or high-masking autistic women can fall into exhaustion. Women are inherently more likely to show social interest and be attuned to those around them, which could explain why women mask more than men. Developing complex masking strategies to fit societal expectations takes a toll over time. By continuously suppressing behaviors and mimicking others, you can end up drained and burned out. Recognizing the cost of masking is important. To recover from burnout, embracing self-acceptance is essential.

NeuroSpark offers autism-affirming assessment and therapy to autistic women

At NeuroSpark, we want you to be yourself and feel understood. We are women-led and women-centered, and we understand the experiences of autistic women. Our adult autism assessments and autism-affirming therapy mean you can feel free to show up as you are and receive the validation you may have been missing. We believe in the unique strengths and assets of each person as they truly are. Our services offer nationwide coverage and virtual care options. Wherever you are, we can likely provide the autism-affirming care you need.