When Autism Hides in Plain Sight: What You Need to Know About Masking
When we think about autism spectrum disorder (ASD), many of us picture classic traits: social difficulties, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities. But what happens when those traits aren’t obvious? What if a child or teen seems to “blend in” at school or the community? This is the hidden world of autism camouflaging, and it can have a profound impact on emotional well-being.
What Is Autism Camouflaging?
Autism masking (also called camouflaging) refers to the ways an autistic person hides or compensates for their traits to fit in socially. These efforts may be conscious or unconscious and often include:
Forcing eye contact, even when it feels uncomfortable
Rehearsing conversations or copying others' social behavior
Suppressing stimming behaviors like rocking or hand-flapping
Pretending to understand jokes, sarcasm, or social cues
These strategies help a person appear "neurotypical," but the cost is often emotional exhaustion and anxiety.
Many children and teens on the autism spectrum learn over time, through social feedback, bullying, or exclusion, that their natural behaviors are not accepted. Girls and those assigned female at birth are especially likely to mask, which contributes to the underdiagnosis of autism in girls (Hull et al., 2020; Tubío-Fungueiriño et al., 2021).
Signs of Autism Camouflaging
Recognizing autism in children and teens who mask can be tricky. Common signs include:
Meltdowns at home after holding it together all day
High anxiety around peers or in social situations
Difficulty identifying or expressing emotions
Exhaustion after social interaction
These children are often described as “doing fine” at school, but their emotional regulation challenges show up behind closed doors. Long-term camouflaging is associated with serious mental health concerns like anxiety and depression, social burnout, loss of identity or low self-esteem, and delayed or missed autism diagnosis.
How Parents and Teachers Can Help
If you suspect a child is masking autism traits, support begins with understanding:
Create a safe space for them to be themselves without pressure to perform
Don’t rely only on outward behavior—check in about how they feel
Validate their experience, even if they "seem fine" on the surface
Work with providers who understand neurodiversity-affirming care
Why Awareness Matters
Masking doesn’t mean a child isn’t autistic; it means they’ve adapted to survive. By recognizing autism camouflaging in kids, we can provide better mental health support, advocate for proper accommodations, and help them grow into confident individuals.
Hull, L., Petrides, K.V. & Mandy, W. (2020). The Female Autism Phenotype and Camouflaging: A Narrative Review. Rev J Autism Dev Disord, 7, 306–317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-020-00197-9
Tubío-Fungueiriño, M., Cruz, S., Sampaio, A. et al. (2021). Social Camouflaging in Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. J Autism Dev Disord, 51, 2190–2199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04695-x