What is masking, and how would I know my child is doing it?

The short answer

Masking is the conscious or unconscious adjustment of behaviour to hide autistic differences or meet other people's social expectations. A child might copy peers, rehearse conversations, force eye contact, suppress movement, hide confusion or endure sensory discomfort without asking to leave. These examples are clues to explore, not a test. Quiet behaviour at school and distress at home do not prove masking; anxiety, fatigue, bullying, pain, learning difficulty and other pressures can produce a similar contrast. Ask about the effort behind the child's day, compare specific situations and make support available without requiring a disclosure. The aim is to understand what helps the child participate without having to conceal a need.

• Masking can be deliberate, partly deliberate or outside a child's immediate awareness.
• Visible composure does not tell you how much effort an activity is taking.
• No single behaviour or home-school contrast confirms masking.
• Ask about concrete situations, effort and recovery rather than asking a child to prove that they mask.
• Support sensory, communication and predictability needs whether or not the child uses the word masking.