Autism-Stimulating AKA Self-Stimulatory Behavior

Autism-Stimulating AKA Self-Stimulatory Behavior

For a child with autism, stimming is an abbreviated term for self-stimulatory behavior.

It is a necessary element for the autistic child as it seems to be a way for them to understand everything that is going on around them. It can also be called zoning out.

stimming can manifest itself in many ways. It can appear as fluttering, obsession with a particular object or the way it moves, or self-harming such as biting the hands or ankles, to name a few.

No two children with autism are the same, so it is natural that there are many forms of self-stimulating behaviors.

For the autistic child, this is a necessary option and if stimming takes a form that is not inappropriate, it should not be restricted. It seems to be a self-control method for them to calm themselves down and even digest information in some ways.

stimming seems to manifest itself on a larger, more intense scale when the child with autism is in a situation in which they are not entirely comfortable and which can be as small as a person entering a room they are unfamiliar with or a meeting hall that could be filled with a lot of people and a lot of noise.

For a child with autism, stimming is a necessary option. It can be reduced somewhat by controlling the external environment, e.g. B. dim the lights or reduce the noise level. However, trying to eradicate it completely may not be the right thing to do, as the autistic child may replace it with another stim that may be less suitable.

It may be far more beneficial for both the autistic child and the caregiver to develop a means of encouraging the child to use their stims at home or in privacy, thereby reducing the risk of being socially excluded by their peers if they use them in public.

Some children with autism are not even aware of their flapping, but if they are gently reminded of it, they will try to stop it themselves if they are in a place where it could be viewed as an anomaly.

For some autistic children, their stimming can be used as a positive tool to promote social interaction.

For example, if the child with the special appeal of autism tears paper, after a while you would notice that the autistic child will check what you are doing. This is especially true if you have tried to stop stimming in the past.

Every look should be met with positive feedback, such as “Great, you looked at me” or “Wow, what pretty blue eyes you have” or something similar. Over time, this will open the door to more social interaction with the autistic child, who may sometimes give you paper to tear up or seek you out so you can participate in their stimulation.

Every time the autistic child interacts with you, they spend less time in their own world, which should be the ultimate goal. A paper-ripping session today could turn into next week's puzzle, guided slowly and positively by you.

The three main areas in which children with autism struggle are: communication, play and social interaction. If you can improve their socialization skills, you can only help the other two areas improve as well.

Inspired by Donna Mason