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AUTISM GLOSSARY
Hyperfocus
DEFINITION
Hyperfocus is a state of intense concentration on a task or topic, during which external distractions fade and time awareness diminishes. It is common in autism and ADHD, though the experience may differ between the two.
WHY IT MATTERS
Hyperfocus can produce remarkable work and deep engagement. It is also associated with difficulty disengaging — transitioning out of hyperfocus can be physically uncomfortable.
COMMON MISCONCEPTION
Hyperfocus is not the same as attention deficit. Many autistic people can hyperfocus extensively on preferred topics while struggling to attend to non-preferred tasks — both reflect different attentional regulation, not global attention failure.