What does autism stimming look like?

Repetitive behaviors like stimming are a key characteristic of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). According to the American Psychiatric Association, about 44% of autistic people stim. There are a lot of reasons someone might stim. Autistic stimming may serve a variety of purposes for autistic children and adults. For example, some have speculated that stimming may act as a coping mechanism, self-regulation tool, or a way to express emotions. 

So, what should you know? Let's define stimming and go over common examples of stimming behaviors first. Then, we'll talk about the benefits of stimming, the possible challenges of stimming, and how to support and encourage stimming in autistic children.

What is stimming?

Stimming can refer to any type of self-stimulatory behavior. This often includes repetitive movements of some kind, but stimming can involve using other modes of sensory input, too. Technically, anyone can stim, including neurotypical people. If a person stims but doesn't experience other ASD symptoms, stimming alone doesn't indicate ASD. However, it is critical to note that ASD can present in diverse ways. 

Common stimming behaviors

Some stimming behaviors, like hair twirling and nail-biting, are more subtle than others. Here are some common types and examples of stimming behaviors seen in people with ASD.

• Repetitive body movements: Rocking, swaying, twirling, jumping, pacing, spinning, tip-toeing/toe-walking, head-shaking, leg-shaking, or stepping from one foot to the other. This can also be called vestibular stimming.
• Repetitive hand movements: Snapping, finger flicking, rubbing an object, hand flapping, finger tapping, nail-biting, hair twirling, or clapping.
• Visual stimming: Moving fingers or hands in front of the eyes, lining up objects, repetitive blinking, turning lights on and off, or watching fans, running water, lights, and other sources of sensory input.
• Vocal stimming: Repeating words of phrases (echolalia), excessive throat clearing, humming, singing, or making other repetitive sounds with the voice.
• Auditory stimming: Covering and uncovering the ears, listening to the same song or another sound repeatedly, or listening to sounds one makes (e.g., snapping, rubbing fingers, humming, repetitive speech).

There's more than one potential purpose of stimming. Stimming is a natural behavior, and unless a specific "stim" causes physical harm, it is not necessarily a bad thing. When an autistic person does engage in a behavior that could cause physical harm, like head banging, it should be re-directed and replaced. For example, a child may work on this in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.

The benefits of stimming

Sometimes, neurotypical individuals may not understand why a person is stimming or the reason for the behavior may not be immediately clear. There are a wide variety of possible stimming triggers, and stimming can have multiple benefits. A person might stim when they're excited, to relieve distress, or for another reason. Here are some of the benefits of stimming for autistic children, teens, and adults.

Regulation of sensory input

Sensory overload is common in neurodivergent people, including but not limited to autistic individuals. Stimming can help those experiencing sensory overload regulate discomfort or anxiety caused by too much sensory input. It can also provide helpful or additional sensory input when someone feels understimulated.

Self-soothing and self-regulation

People often stim to help regulate their emotions. This does not relate to sensory experiences alone. Autistic people's brains take in more information at rest than other people's and can be prone to being overwhelmed. Often, autistic people stim to help themselves feel more calm or to relieve feelings of anxiety. This is part of why stimulatory behaviors can be so important.

Communication and expression

Stimming behaviors can be used to communicate feelings and express oneself. In some cases, stimming behaviors could allude to discomfort. In other cases, stimming can be used to express excitement. For example, someone may start shaking their hands or fists, jumping up and down, or waving their arms to express excitement.

The challenges of stimming

Although stimming can be a very positive and important thing for autistic individuals, it can come with challenges, too. While awareness regarding ASD is increasing, many people still do not understand ASD, which is where many of the possible struggles associated with stimming come from. Other challenges may relate to safety.

Social stigma and misunderstanding

Social stigma and misunderstanding are some of the most common challenges people run into when it comes to stimming. Those who are not educated on ASD may not be aware of what stimming behaviors can look like. This can lead to misunderstanding and judgment in social situations with peers, the work or classroom environment, or even among family members who do not understand ASD. Educating others on ASD is essential for this reason.

Potential negative consequences of suppressing stimming behaviors

Since stimming behaviors can be a vital way of regulating emotions and overwhelming sensory input, repressing them can come with real consequences. Suppression of stimming behaviors can lead to a build-up of discomfort, leading the child, teen, or adult to feel very overwhelmed, tense, or on edge. Many autistic adults who were told to suppress non-harmful stims (like waving their arms and other repetitive motor movements) in childhood express the harm that this caused them.

Importance of creating a supportive environment for stimming

Creating a supportive environment for stimming means that kids can get the benefits of stimming behaviors, understand them as a coping tool, and continue using them healthily later in life as an autistic adult. Parents and caregivers can make a supportive environment for stimming by:

• Offering stim toys (e.g., chew necklaces, squish toys) and other tools (sensory slugs, weighted blankets, and light-up toys). Teach children when and how to use them. For example, if your child often feels anxious, you can talk about these tools as a way for the child to help themselves feel better.
• Redirecting harmful stims. The key to this can be offering a stimming behavior that is more desirable than the non-desirable stim. Positive reinforcement and help from a professional like an ABA therapy provider can be helpful in some cases.
• Discussing appropriate environments for certain behaviors. For example, a stimming behavior that is okay at home may not be suitable for the classroom.

Teaching kids specific movements they can use to self-regulate can be helpful, too. For example, even neurotypical individuals may shake their arms by their side to relieve tension. 

How to support and encourage stimming in individuals with autism

There are ways to support and encourage healthy stimming behaviors in individuals with ASD, which may include educating other people, providing opportunities for safe and appropriate stimming, and teaching children and teens how to advocate for themselves in situations where stimming may be misunderstood. Here are three things you can do as a parent to support your child.

Educating others about the importance of stimming

In general, it's essential to create an ASD-positive environment for children, teens, and adults with ASD. Tell family members and loved ones about the importance of stimming, including how it can be used for self-regulation and the disadvantages of suppressing stims. This can be part of a general conversation about what ASD is, common symptoms, and the strengths that can come with it.

Providing opportunities for safe and appropriate stimming

Parents are encouraged to make time for stimming for their children. That way, the child will feel encouraged to be who they are and can use stimming as the important tool it often is. To do this, you can:

• Encourage stimming at home. For example, when letting a child know that they can't use certain stimming behaviors in the classroom, you can let them know that you encourage them to do it at home.
• Provide opportunities for physical activity and joyful sensory experiences (e.g., offering tools for visual stimming and providing sensory toys).

Some programs for parents even encourage caregivers to join in on certain stims. For example, Floortime, a common alternative to ABA therapy, encourages parents to follow the child's lead, which can include the way they use objects or interact.

Encouraging self-awareness and self-advocacy

Sometimes, ASD can come with challenges regarding understanding personal space and being aware of your surroundings. In turn, self-awareness can be crucial for safety. Teach kids to be aware of their surroundings, including how to look out for objects and people they might run into on accident and, again, specific locations where certain behaviors are and aren't to be used.

As kids get older, they may be in situations where they have to advocate for themselves. When kids grow up understanding that they are autistic and have a positive understanding of ASD, they grow up understanding themselves more. Teaching children how to explain ASD as a condition in a positive, informative way, including the importance of stimming behaviors, can be vital.

Talk about self-advocacy in the home and consider getting involved with the autistic community in your area for additional support. Parent support groups, friendship groups for autistic children, and events, such as nature walks and sensory-friendly holiday events, held by local ASD organizations can all be beneficial. 

Conclusion

Stimming is a natural behavior that can occur in autistic people and neurotypical individuals. Some stimming behaviors are more common than others. Types of stimming behaviors often seen in autistic people include repetitive body movements, like pacing or rocking, repetitive hand movements, like hand flapping, or vocal, visual, and auditory stimming.

Stimming can be used to help an autistic person feel more calm, reduce overwhelming sensory input, or display positive emotions like excitement. Suppressing stimming behaviors can negatively impact mental health and take away an important mode of self-regulation and expression for an autistic person.

It's important to promote awareness and understanding of autistic stimming in children and adults. To ensure that kids are able to get the benefits of stimming now and later in life, increasing awareness within your community, teaching kids to be aware of their surroundings, and providing opportunities for safe and appropriate stimming can be essential.