Special Interests

The Gillberg (1989) criteria defines all-absorbing narrow interests as a key characteristic for Asperger's Syndrome. These can sometimes be somewhat peripheral to maintaining a career or social network, such as fascination with keys, or the number plates on Mercedes busses, or the dates on five cent pieces. For some Aspies, these interests become very powerful obsessions that become more important than any other part of their lives. My narrow interests happen to focus on sound, music and gadgetry - and I have managed to turn these interests into a career. But these things are also my hobbies and very much all I want to do when I'm not at work - sometimes to the detriment of other people in my life.