{"id":23155,"date":"2025-06-10T13:21:20","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T18:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autism.org\/?p=23155"},"modified":"2025-08-25T11:55:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T16:55:33","slug":"masking-deconstructing-the-myths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/autism.org\/masking-deconstructing-the-myths\/","title":{"rendered":"Masking: Deconstructing the Myths"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Dr. Dena Gassner<\/a> deconstructs autistic masking and provides a new framework for understanding this universal human experience. She discusses myths about masking being an exclusively autistic experience and asserts the need to move away from the classic binary lens (male vs. female) of autism presentations. The speaker redefines masking as a complex and labor-intensive cognitive process that is especially taxing for autistic people. Gassner highlights the significant risks and harms of persistent masking, including co-occurring conditions and missed or misdiagnosis. She provides a framework for embracing authenticity and conscious adaptation instead of using masking as a default state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can take the knowledge quiz below or HERE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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