actuallyadhd:

What is hyperfocus?

• Hyperfocus is pretty much what it sounds like. “Hyper” means “lots of” and “focus” is self-explanatory. Basically, it’s what happens when we get sucked into an activity and lose awareness of pretty much everything else, including stuff like needing to eat or use the bathroom.
• Not all ADHDers experience hyperfocus, but a lot of us do. It doesn’t matter what type of ADHD you have; it’s a general ADHD thing. In addition, some ADHDers are able to control what they hyperfocus on, but most of us have to figure out what kinds of things are most likely to trigger hyperfocus and save those activities for times when it will be okay to get “stuck” for a while.

What is the difference between hyperfocus, special interests, and hyperfixation?

• As noted above, hyperfocus is a period of sustained focus, typically lasting for several hours. Special interests are things that you are really interested in, often to the point of obsession. A special interest can last for a day or even several years. Often you will hyperfocus on a special interest.
• The term “hyperfixation” is a new term that is meant to be an umbrella term for things like hyperfocus, special interests, and perseveration. You can read more about it here.