If you’ve ever noticed your child rocking, flapping their hands, or repeating sounds over and over, you might have wondered what it all means. Understanding why it happens can help parents support their children without unnecessary worry.
According to Very Well Health, stimming, a self-stimulatory behaviour involving repetitive movements or sounds, is common in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is said to go beyond cultural or socially acceptable behaviours, such as nail-biting and hair-twirling, and is more obtrusive in autistic individuals.
The WebMD explains that stimulation can be classified into various types, including auditory, vocal, tactile, visual, vestibular, olfactory, and full-body stimming. Auditory stimming is said to involve hearing and sounds, while vocal stimming involves vocal or throat sounds. “Tactile stimming includes actions that involve touching or feeling, such as when you rub or scratch your skin, open and close your fists, tap your fingers on an object or surface, or flap your hands or arms.”
Furthermore, the above source explains that vestibular stimming involves movement or balance, while olfactory stimming involves taste or smell. Full body stimming involves movement that involves the entire body.
Examples of autistic stimming include finger-flicking, rocking, humming, hard blinking, opening and closing doors, flicking switches, finger-snapping, spinning objects, and covering ears.
The above source continues to explain that stimulation is often seen as a tool for emotional self-regulation in autistic individuals who have sensory processing challenges. It can help block out excessive sensory input, provide necessary stimulation, manage emotions, and distract from physical discomfort and pain, depending on the type of response to stimuli.
The American Psychiatry Association states that stimulation behaviours are often not socially accepted, but increased understanding can help create safer, more acceptable ones. Strategies for managing or limiting these behaviours include delaying engagement in the behaviours until alone or in a non-judgmental environment.
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