It became her coping mechanism. While stress can bring on stimming as a response, ironically the opposite is true as well. For instance, when a person is bored it becomes a way to deal with thoughts and feelings that have no place to go. Stimming is also a way to keep the mind on track.
The repetitive motions can allow those with autism to keep focused, and clear their head of distractions.
Carol discovered this to be the case when she read a book. She often sucked on a piece of candy while reading. It helped her to concentrate. Stimming may be about self-regulation for the person with autism, but it can also be a way to express their needs and feelings.
For instance, if your child often twirls a pencil, and you see their actions increase in speed, they may be unconsciously communicating something — often distress or discomfort.
When routine stimming behavior becomes more intense or exaggerated, it often indicates that something in the environment is bringing about feelings of anxiety. Pay attention and you could very well find your child communicating these feelings through their self-stimulatory behavior. This can be particularly helpful if your child is nonverbal. These behaviors come from a child and each child is different from the next child.
What I might say about one child might very well not be appropriate for the next child … Self-stimulating behaviors are not only developmentally appropriate but also required if the child is to mature toward independence.
Many children suck their thumb, or rub their fingers on a favorite blanket as Carol did. People with autism and their families should decide for themselves how much of their behavior should be dictated by other people's discomfort.
It may be possible to reduce stimming, but it may be impossible to eliminate it. Parents and caregivers may have to learn to accept the behaviors of an autistic loved one.
This isn't always easy. If you're sensitive to the judgments of others, consider talking to a therapist. Counseling can help you manage your feelings and frustrations. Yes, there are toys that help with stimming. Often called fidget toys, they are small toys or gadgets that encourage repetitive motion using the hands.
Many are available online and at a number of retail locations that sell toys. Fidget toys may be a healthy, non-disruptive way to help manage stimming. In some cases, being happy and stimming can happen. People with autism might not exclusively stim when they feel anxious; they also may do it out of excitement or anticipation, two emotions that can be linked to happiness.
Yes, chewing can be a self-stimulatory behavior. It can include biting your nails, chewing on an eraser, or even chewing on toys. This type of stimming may be dangerous to a person's personal health, since it could damage their teeth or hands. Finding an alternative to these behaviors, such as anxiety treatment, may help prevent injury. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Motor stereotypies: a pathophysiological review.
Front Neurosci. Stop making noise! Auditory sensitivity in adults with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis: physiological habituation and subjective detection thresholds. J Autism Dev Disord. Self-injury in autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability: exploring the role of reactivity to pain and sensory input. Brain Sci. The role of emotion regulation in autism spectrum disorder. Autism and social disconnection in interpersonal rocking. Front Integr Neurosci.
Evidence-based behavioral interventions for repetitive behaviors in autism. Applied behavior analysis as treatment for autism spectrum disorder. J Pediatr. Occupational therapy services for people with autism spectrum disorders: current state of play, use of evidence and future learning priorities. Aust Occup Ther J. Masiran R. Stimming behaviour in a 4-year-old girl with autism spectrum disorder.
BMJ Case Rep. Assessment and treatment of stereotypic behavior in children with autism and other developmental disabilities: A thirty year review. Res Autism Spectr Disord. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Stim Behaviors. Reasons for Stimming. Problematic Stimming. Managing Stims. For some, stimming can include higher-risk behaviors such as banging their hands, head, legs, and objects, which may be potentially physically harmful.
At times, this behavior is not stimming but a nonverbal method of communication that a person uses to make themselves understood. If a person behaves in this way, it is a good idea to speak to a doctor. For some children and adults, stimming may interfere with their attention and learning abilities, as well as social interaction with others. Unfortunately, for those who do not fully understand how autistic people cope with their emotions through stimming, this behavior can be upsetting, distracting, frightening, or dangerous.
Sometimes, this misunderstanding can lead to autistic people becoming socially isolated or restricted from doing what they want to. Stimming is a behavior displayed by autistic people who employ it as a coping mechanism for particular emotions.
Stimming is thought to provide a pleasurable sensation and taking it away abruptly could have adverse effects and is not recommended. To reduce the intensity and frequency of stimming, or even to stop the behavior, experts recommend slowly replacing the behaviors with others that are safer or more acceptable.
The replacement behaviors should also provide the person with the same pleasurable, stimulating, or calming experience. However, some of these medications have side effects. People should discuss the risks and the benefits of medication with their doctor. How these medications control stimming is not fully understood.
But, experts think that they may provide arousal or decrease motor movements. Certain behavioral or occupational therapies may help autistic people reduce or stop stimming behaviors. Applied behavioral analysis ABA is a method of treating autism through a system of reward-giving. In some cases, occupational therapy may be helpful.
It may be recommended to help develop the appropriate responses to certain senses, such as sound and sight. Speaking with a qualified healthcare professional will be helpful to work out what recommendations are most appropriate. If there is a known trigger that begins or worsens stimming, it may be helpful to try to remove or alter the situation to reduce anxiety and stress. For example, if large crowds tend to make a person anxious and their stimming behaviors increase, they could try keeping to less crowded environments when possible.
If it is impossible to stop stimming entirely, it may be possible to change the activity to something more appropriate. For example, if a child flaps their hands when stressed or anxious, encouraging them to squeeze a stress ball or a soft toy rather than waving their arms about may be a more appropriate option.
It may even be possible to encourage the person to do the repetitive behavior only when they are in a safe environment, such as in their home or the home of a loved one. With the current advances in therapies for autism, families do not have to face these challenges alone. Speaking to a doctor or another health professional can help determine the best method to address stimming.
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