Do ALL Aspies Have a Special Interest?

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My husband never did, that he can recall. My daughter is into marching bands suddenly, at age 4. She's always been extremely into numbers and letters - but especially numbers.

My special interests were all-encompassing at times. The biggest ones were/are rollerskating and cardiovascular medicine. I'm turning the latter into a career.

I thought I didn't have any obsessions, but after I talked to my husband about it and he pointed out so many, I can see his point. Even though I continue to obsess about things, it fades, if that makes sense, but can come back pretty strong.

You can map my life by my obsessions. Each represents a new bar on the timeline that is my 20 years...

No, not all have one special interest. Some have many simultaneously. When I was a child I went from obsession to obsession (which I understand is common in children with AS, from reading posts here). I haven't had any obsessions in over 10 years though, just a bunch of stable hobbies/interests that haven't changed and aren't likely to change.

Who doesn't have a couple of interests, really? A man without passion, whether it be direct or passive, for anything is likely lacking a very large part of personality.

Mine come and go, few are "stable"

I have multiples, as one of mine is studying the history of things. Then I get interested in what I'm studying.

We're all interested in the same thing, Pinky - trying to take over the world.

Not really. My interests are stuff like video games, music and movies.

As far as specialized interests I have one but it isn't scientific or anything. When I was young, my thing was music/lyrics/bands. I knew all the information about most bands I liked, I still have a vast library in my head of lyrics. My specialized interests have changed to movies, mostly classic movies and I also have an interest in The Royal Family (mostly Henry VIII and Elizabeth I eras).

But I do have other interests. In today's world, it is hard to stay focused on ONE thing, LOL!

I have always loved having aquariums and more specifically now I'm hooked on cichlids becuase they are very interesting and have individual personalities and a very interesting social structure, they are also beautiful I have a Chipokae male in my tank here at school that is drop dead gorgeous (because he's the boss fish in the tank and the boss always displays the most brilliant colors this is true for many fish species) but he is also a very laid back boss fish he isn't a big bully like some of the fish at home (which is why he will never go into the 55 gallon tank at home becuase the two ugly albino type cichlids that have joint rule in that tank would beat him up cause he's real skiddish and then he wouldn't be pretty anymore.) Anyway, there I go on fish, can you tell it's an interest? But really if you ever need advice on aquariums chances are I can help.

mine has always been science fiction but specifically what in scinece ficiton varies.
also, writing books is about the onyl hobby i have.

Here is my timeline from the beginning(born in 1980).

1980-present Hotwheels/Matchbox cars, certain smooth synthetic fabrics (like the ribbon touling on the edge of blankets)

1984-1988 Dinosaurs, Mount Saint helen, petrified wood

1984-present Computers/video games, audio/video equipment

1986-present batteries, time travel

1987-1995 archery, fletching

1994-present US history, Latin language, Roman history, William Shakespeare

1995-present Building, modifying, repairing, driving classic and performance cars.

1996-present Films with artistic merit

2000-present Peliter effect devices

2001-present Compound interest modeling

2002-present insurance risk assesment modeling

2005-present Parenting

yeah. it's a major part of being an aspie. Obsessions.

I don't really think so.

When I was little, and even now, I was interested in myth and fantasy. But my dad being the fundie he was thought it witch-craft and kept me from delving into it. He was into comic books, and allowed me to buy some from time to time, but whenever he went on a guilt trip, he'd burn them all. Now that I'm free from bondage I've been reading fantasy books and such mostly for entertainment, but have yet to really delve into mythos. I'm certainly no Joseph Campbell.

For most of my school years I was really focused on drawing, but I didn't take much outside influence other than comic books and a few techniques learned in art classes. Technically I know very little about drawing.

I know very little about anything I'm interested in. Like movies, video games, and music.

So unless you'd count those as special interests, I don't have any.

Looking back now that we have a diagnoses we have had lots of obsessions, volcanoes, cars, trains and the weather, not bad for a 6 year old, how clever is he!!