Yes. Masking — sometimes called camouflaging — is widely described by autistic adults and is now well recognised in clinical research and practice. It involves consciously or unconsciously hiding autistic traits in order to fit in socially, for example by scripting conversations, copying other people’s mannerisms, or suppressing stimming.

Masking is one of the main reasons autism is harder to spot in women and in adults who have spent years adapting to a neurotypical world. It often comes at a cost: many people describe significant exhaustion, anxiety or burnout after long periods of masking.