Did you know this has been a term since way before 2015 when it started being used here on Tumblr (it’s supposed to be an umbrella term you guys it is not specific to non-autistic people, according to the person who coined it).
Did you know that its earlier uses have been solely in regard to autism?
Yup.
I have evidence. When you get to the link, just search the page for “hyper” and you’ll find it pretty dang quickly.
https://learningneverstops.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/big-bang-theorys-sheldon-cooper-aspergers-syndromes-poster-boy/ (comment, 2012)
https://www.mamapedia.com/article/wrong-diagnosis-is-that-possible-for-a-3-yo-toddler-autism-spectrum-pdd-nos (comment, 2010)
http://forums.prohealth.com/forums/index.php?threads%2Fdo-you-ever-sit-in-a-daze.179870%2F (comment, 2007)
https://spectrumshare.com/2012/07/ (blog post, 2012)
http://www.research.utoronto.ca/what-is-autism/ (article, 2010)
And when I do a search specifically for “special interest” ADHD, eliminating Tumblr results and results that include autism, most of the results talk about how professionals who specialize in ADHD… have a special interest in ADHD.
So everyone who says hyperfixation is for ADHD (what even) and special interest is for autism (what even) can go chew on that for a while.
ADDENDUM:
Links about hyperfixation used in contexts other than disability:
http://www.kveller.com/article/five-minutes-with-rebecca-walker/
https://thesocietypages.org/cyborgology/2011/07/10/facebook-narcissism/
http://www.transformerdc.org/documents/Magrogan_PR_final.pdf
http://www.adrants.com/2008/10/fickle-men-drink-fickle-whisky-and.php
Apparently this needs to make a comeback. Please reblog far and wide, I’m tired of being told I’m not allowed to use my words.
A quick note on hyperfixation
Published
Urocyon's Jaunts 2.0 