My dd does all of it. She just works it into everything she's doing so that it seems like part of her play. My ds does ear things, smelling and rubbing skin and licking windows.
How do your dc stim? Are they aware of it? Is it automatic, like a reflex or do they seek it out to calm or regulate? I am just curious, my dd does this thing with her hands and I am sure it is stimming but she seems so unaware she is doing it. She does it as a reaction to something exciting. This movement is the reason I started to wonder if she was on the spectrum. I wonder if once she becomes aware of it she will be able to control it more?
Thanks:)
hi hun
Stereotypy or self-stimulatory behavior refers to repetitive body movements or repetitive movement of objects. This behavior is common in many individuals with developmental disabilities; however, it appears to be more common in autism. In fact, if a person with another developmental disability exhibits a form of self-stimulatory behavior, often the person is also labelled as having autistic characteristics. Stereotypy can involve any one or all senses. We have listed the five major senses and some examples of stereotypy.
| Sense | Stereotypic Behaviors |
|---|---|
| Visual | staring at lights, repetitive blinking, moving fingers in front of the eyes, hand-flapping |
| Auditory | tapping ears, snapping fingers, making vocal sounds |
| Tactile | rubbing the skin with one's hands or with another object, scratching |
| Vestibular | rocking front to back, rocking side-to-side |
| Taste | placing body parts or objects in one's mouth, licking objects |
| Smell | smelling objects, sniffing people |
Researchers have suggested various reasons for why a person may engage in stereotypic behaviors. One set of theories suggests that these behaviors provide the person with sensory stimulation (i.e., the person's sense is hyposensitive). Due to some dysfunctional system in the brain or periphery, the body craves stimulation; and thus, the person engages in these behaviors to excite or arouse the nervous system. One specific theory states that these behaviors release beta-endorphins in the body (endogeneous opiate-like substances) and provides the person with some form of internal pleasure.
Another set of theories states that these behaviors are exhibited to calm a person (i.e., the person's sense is hypersensitive). That is, the environment is too stimulating and the person is in a state of sensory-overload. Interestingly, these behaviors are often effective positive reinforcers if a person is allowed to engage in these behaviors after completing a task.
There are numerous ways to reduce or eliminate stereotypic behaviors, such as exercise as well as providing an individual with alternative, more socially-appropriate, forms of stimulation (e.g., chewing on a rubber tube rather than biting one's arm). Drugs are also used to reduce these behaviors; however, it is not clear whether the drugs actually reduce the behaviors directly (e.g., providing internal arousal) or indirectly (e.g., slowing down one's overall motor movement).
When my kids are young I point out to them when they are stimming, just for the awareness. They both still stim but the older one won't stim in public or when he has nt pals around (excl his best pal). My four year old still flaps. I don't disallow stimming but I do try to limit it to the certain times of the day and cetain places. They both love a good stim
I've found that OT joint compressions reduce stimming lots. Plus lots of physical activities/exersise like swimming, trampoline, bike-riding etc reduces the need to stim. I don't see it as a bad thing 'cept when they get really carried away with it at the expense of other things.
My son has various stims -- the worst one is running wild while making high-pitched noises. Others are more socially acceptable but on the verge of not being age appropriate -- like cuddling and swinging. They definitely help him regulate.
This article made a lot of sense to me when I was first trying to figure out my son's stimming.
http://www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/archive/mannerism.html #Chart
Good luck with everything.
My son does a lot of sniffing, toe walking, verbal stimming, Most he can control. We let him stim freely at home.
Linda