What to Know About Stimming in Autism

Stimming: A Sign of a Certain Treatment for Your Autistic Children

Many of the symptoms that people with autism exhibit will continue to appear even if parents seek effective treatment options. It includes some form of “stimming” in most cases. A common symptom of autism is stimming, which can be described as repetitive behaviors or movements. If you notice that your autistic children kick against stimming, there may be something that you need to learn about your treatments for them. These behaviors are self-stimulated and are repetitive actions that stimulate the senses. Examples of stimming include clapping and running in circles, humming, and manipulating objects (such as bending straws, tearing paper, or running in circles). Let’s find out more about stimming in this article.

Stimming Helps Decrease Their Stress Levels

Stimming behaviors may seem inappropriate or unnecessary in some situations, but they are not intended as attention-seeking or disruptive. Stimming is often used to reduce stress levels in children who engage in it. Autism causes children to react differently to sensory stimuli. Therefore, they use Stimming to cope with their sensory issues. Children with autism often use stimming to balance. Many autistic children find that rocking back and forth helps them regain focus after being overly sensitive to stimuli in their environment. It can help them focus and concentrate.

It is most noticeable in autistic children but can be seen in non-autistic adults as well. Think about how many times you have seen someone tapping a pencil, drumming, tapping their fingers, or moving their knee while sitting. These behaviors are often exacerbated by anxiety. Although behaviors like whistling or nail-biting are not always voluntary, they can help manage emotions and calm down when things get stressful. Children with autism often encounter stressors in the environment and are frequently “triggered” throughout the day, especially when they arrive in a new environment.

New Unique Stimming Levels May Relate to the New Treatments

There may be many reasons why your autistic child may be more stimulated with new or more frequent treats. When they learn something new, they seek comfort. They find it stressful and retreat to their familiar environment – stimulation behavior. They don’t like changes in their routine caused by increased frequency or a new treatment.

These are not all the reasons. Behavioral monitoring is the key to determining whether stimulation increases or decreases with treatment. Also, keep in mind that stimulation behaviors can lead to obsessions. Divide your child’s stimulating behavior into two categories to determine treatment for autism. Calming stimulation is what helps children with autism focus when they feel stressed or anxious. Excitatory stimulation, on the other hand, can cause your child to lose focus.