Stimming is a form of self-stimulation that can include physical actions such as rocking, pacing, and teeth grinding. It is often found in children with autism and can interfere with learning and socialization. Weighted blankets and therapy can help control and replace stimming behaviors.
Stimming is a repeated physical action that is performed to self-stimulate or help soothe a person. This form of self-stimulation can include activities such as stomping, mumbling, pacing, and teeth grinding. A heightened form of self-stimulation is often found in children with autism and may involve rocking, moaning, or clapping. In autistic children, the stimming can become so exaggerated that it interferes with learning and performing simple tasks, causing the child to be teased or ostracized. Stimming can occasionally be controlled by using weighted blankets or by practicing to substitute obvious, more embarrassing forms of self-stimulation for less obvious ones.
Autistic children sometimes use loud, attention-grabbing forms of self-stimulation at inappropriate times, embarrassing and angering their parents or friends. Help the parents and friends of an autistic child understand that this form of stimulation has a purpose and is often necessary, to some extent, to help the autistic person function. The functions of stimming are to calm the person during a stressful situation, distract him from the animated activity around him or help him process the sensory information around him.
Stimming involves movement, sounds, sight, smells, touch, taste and proprioception. Movement and auditory self-stimulation are usually the most common forms. Self-stimulation with movement most often involves rocking, pacing, jumping or whirling. Auditory self-stimulation involves humming, making repetitive sounds, staring at objects, snapping fingers, or clapping.
Visual stimming typically involves repetitive blinking, focusing on lights, or placing objects, usually in a row. Olfactory self-stimulation includes smelling objects or people. Self-stimulation by touch includes rubbing objects, biting nails, or sucking and twirling hair. Taste self-stimulation usually includes placing objects in the mouth, and proprioception stimulation involves teeth grinding and pacing.
There are several methods that can be used to try to control and limit exaggerated forms of self-stimulation. A weighted blanket, collar or vest sometimes helps people with excessive stimming while at school or when sitting for long periods of time. The pressure of the weight is sufficient to sustain the necessary physical stimulation and prevent or minimize exaggerated self-stimulation.
With therapy, some of the louder or socially inappropriate forms of self-stimulation can be replaced with less obvious ones. For example, therapy may be able to replace jumping, clapping, or moaning with foot stamping or toe tapping on the side of the leg. This method allows the child to stimulate himself without calling attention to himself or interfering with things happening around him.
Stimming is often triggered by a place or situation. Learning to recognize and avoid the triggers for stimulation can reduce the occurrence of excessive self-stimulation. Older children may be able to gradually practice replacing an attention-grabbing stimulator with a less obvious one around their triggers.
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