STIMMING

Self-stimulatory behaviour is common in children with ASD. I first knew about 'stimming' around a year ago, but maybe like most people, an image of a child flapping hands came to mind and not much else. Pretty naive thinking about it.

Sensory Input

Technically, stimming is somebody doing something to give themselves sensory input. You do something because you want to achieve a consequence. When someone is stimming, they’re speaking, moving or gazing purely to enjoy the sensation it creates, and the state of mind that sensation produces. A person with autism can stim on almost anything; it just needs to be something that appeals to them. This doesnt really sound like much, but for some can dominate their whole day!

J's Stims

So thinking about it, and now realising there can also be subtle stimms, J actually presents with quite a few. Some in your face ones and some barely noticeable.

I would say her main stim is pacing, swinging, climbing and jumping, all of which are giving her body a sense of balance and position a boost.

Then there are some strange looking physical movements, like assuming postures that look contorted and uncomfortable to others. Every day I seem to be learning something new!

Some people may find some form of stims frightening, but in fact the explanation for it is really quite simple: stimming is doing something repetitive for the sensation it creates rather than the result it produces – and that sensation is one that your son or daughter finds pleasing.

For instance: if you’re in a busy environment and your child is stressed, they might stim as a way of shutting things out. If they’re tired at the end of a long day, they might stim to keep themselves going. If they’re anxious about something, they might stim to calm down. If they don’t want to do something, they might stim as a way of blocking out the demand. A big yes to all of these for J.