Autism Lifeline

Adult Autism

Masking and Camouflaging in Autistic Adults

What masking is, why so many autistic adults do it, and the mental-health costs research is beginning to document.

Research supported·7 min read·Last reviewed 07/13/2026·Autism Lifeline Editorial

Action panel

What can I do today?

Small, doable steps for right now, this week, and when to bring in a professional. Educational only — not individualized medical or behavioral advice.

Step 1

In the next 10 minutes

Pause and take three slow breaths together — regulate yourself first.
Reduce sensory load: lower lights, turn off background noise, offer quiet space.
Drop non-essential demands for the next few minutes. Safety and connection first.
Offer a preferred item or activity, or a familiar comfort routine.
Use fewer words. Try a visual, gesture, or written cue instead of talking through it.

Step 2

This week

Track what happens before, during, and after for 3–5 days (ABC notes).
Look for patterns in sleep, hunger, sensory input, and transitions.
Test one small environmental change (lighting, timing, warning before switches).
Introduce or review a visual schedule for the parts of day that are hardest.
Plan a 15-minute connection time daily, without demands, to fill the tank.

Step 3

Questions to ask a professional

Pediatrician or physician

Could a medical issue (pain, reflux, constipation, sleep apnea, allergies) be contributing?
Are there any recent changes in health, medication, or growth we should investigate?
What screenings or referrals would you recommend at this stage?

BCBA or behavior specialist

What might this behavior be communicating, and what function does the data suggest?
What antecedent changes and replacement skills would you prioritize first?
How will we measure progress, and how often will we review the plan together?

Occupational therapist

What sensory patterns are you seeing, and what supports do you recommend?
Which activities of daily living should we target first, and how?
Are there environmental adjustments we can try at home or school?

Step 4

Helpful printables

Masking and Camouflaging

Masking (also called camouflaging) is the conscious or unconscious suppression of natural autistic traits to appear non-autistic. Hull et al. (2017) grouped it into three strategies: compensation, masking, and assimilation.

Why adults mask

To keep jobs and friendships.
To avoid bullying, discrimination, and being disbelieved.
Because they were shaped to do so in childhood (Pearson & Rose, 2021).

What research links masking to

Higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality (Cassidy et al., 2018).
Delayed diagnosis, especially for women and gender-diverse adults (Lai et al., 2017).
Autistic burnout (Raymaker et al., 2020).

Unmasking is not all-or-nothing

Most autistic adults choose contexts to unmask in gradually. Autistic-led resources such as the Autistic Self Advocacy Network emphasize consent and safety, not performative disclosure.

Sources

Hull, L., et al. (2017). "Putting on my best normal": Social camouflaging in adults with autism spectrum conditions. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(8), 2519-2534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5
Pearson, A., & Rose, K. (2021). A conceptual analysis of autistic masking. Autism in Adulthood, 3(1), 52-60. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2020.0043
Cassidy, S., et al. (2018). Risk markers for suicidality in autistic adults. Molecular Autism, 9, 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4
Lai, M.-C., et al. (2017). Quantifying and exploring camouflaging in men and women with autism. Autism, 21(6), 690-702. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361316671012
Autistic Self Advocacy Network. About Autism. https://autisticadvocacy.org/about-asan/about-autism/

Sources & further reading

Hull et al. (2017) J Autism Dev Disord 47(8):2519-2534 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3166-5
Pearson & Rose (2021) Autism in Adulthood 3(1):52-60 https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2020.0043
Cassidy et al. (2018) Molecular Autism 9:42 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-018-0226-4
Lai et al. (2017) Autism 21(6):690-702 https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361316671012
Autistic Self Advocacy Network https://autisticadvocacy.org/about-asan/about-autism/

Educational content only. For individualized assessment or treatment, please consult a qualified professional.