What is masking??

Written By Lia Douglas

Masking is what happens when an autistic person tries to fit into neurotypical social rules or standards. Sometimes, we can place these demands on our children without even realizing it like demanding eye contact or reducing or stopping self stimulatory behaviors, and insisting a child hug or kiss when they do not like to be touched are just a few examples. Autistic girls are known to be better at masking their traits than boys. Masking can have a negative impact emotionally and physically and sometimes is done to cope. Often people report they do not even realize they are masking. We need to be supportive of Autistic individuals and try hard not to place demands on them that are not natural for their neurotype.

Lia Douglas

Lia Douglas is a dedicated speech-language pathologist with 29 years of experience, specializing in neurodivergent-affirming speech therapy practices. Over five years ago, she founded Beach Speech Pediatric Therapy in Gulf Shores, AL, where she provides compassionate, individualized care to children and their families. Lia is deeply passionate about fostering inclusivity and equipping families with positive, affirming strategies to support their children’s unique strengths and communication needs. Her commitment to creating supportive environments where every child can thrive has made her a trusted advocate and resource in the community.

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