Understanding and Managing Autism Stimming

Stimming is not exclusive to individuals with autism; it’s a natural behaviour seen in everyone as a way to respond to or manage emotions. However, for individuals with autism, stimming often appears differently and may be more noticeable.

As parents of children with autism, understanding the unique ways they may stim and learning how to embrace and manage these behaviours with empathy can be invaluable in supporting their needs.

What is Stimming in Autism?

Stimming, short for “self-stimulatory behaviour,” refers to repetitive actions or movements. It’s common across all people, seen in habits such as tapping a foot or humming, but as mentioned, it often takes on a more noticeable form in people with autism.

Although the exact reasons for stimming are still being debated, most experts agree that it could be a way for people with autism to regulate their emotions and sensory experiences. As many individuals with autism experience sensory processing challenges, they may either over-respond (hypersensitive) or under-respond (hyposensitive) to sensory stimuli. These may include sounds, light, textures and smells.

In these cases, stimming can help block out overwhelming sensory input for those who are hypersensitive or provide necessary sensory stimulation for those who are hyposensitive.

How Does Stimming Differ in Autistic People?

Neurotypical individuals usually refrain from stimming when they notice they are garnering attention from other people.

However, individuals with autism may perceive social cues and body language differently, meaning they might not notice or respond to others’ reactions. As a result, they may continue stimming even in situations where it might not be considered appropriate.

It’s important to keep in mind that stimming associated with autism isn’t always a cause for concern. It only becomes an issue if it affects learning, impacts social interactions, or becomes destructive.

Stimming Examples

Stimming behaviours can take many forms, including:

• Hand and finger movements, like hand-flapping or finger-flicking
• Body movements, such as rocking back and forth, pacing, and spinning
• Posturing, like holding a particular hand or body position for extended periods
• Visual stimming, like staring at objects, blinking rapidly, or watching light patterns
• Repetitive behaviours, such as opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off
• Vocal stimming, like humming, repeating phrases or sounds, grunting
• Chewing or mouthing objects
• Playing the same sounds or music repeatedly

What Triggers Stimming?

Stimming behaviours often occur in response to specific internal or external triggers. Common triggers include:

• Sensory Overload: When too many sights, sounds, smells, or other stimuli are present, stimming may help to counterbalance overwhelming sensations.
• Sensory Under-stimulation: A lack of sensory input can also prompt stimming, as it helps the individual “fill in” the missing sensory experience.
• Pain Management: For some individuals, stimming can provide a coping mechanism for physical discomfort or pain.
• Emotional Regulation: When dealing with intense emotions, such as anxiety or excitement, stimming may be a way to manage or express these feelings.

Benefits of Stimming

And while often misunderstood, stimming can also serve a valuable purpose for individuals with autism, including:

• Self-Regulation and Emotional Comfort: Stimming provides a way to help them cope with excessive sensory stimulation and emotional excitation, such as anxiety.
• Focus and Concentration: In some cases, stimming behaviours can aid concentration, helping individuals to stay focused on tasks.
• Enhanced Sensory Processing: Stimming offers sensory feedback that may support better sensory integration.
• Sense of Control and Predictability: For many individuals with autism, engaging in repetitive behaviours offers comfort and a sense of familiarity.

Risks of Stimming

While stimming can be beneficial for people with autism, certain behaviours may introduce risks or challenges:

• Self-Injurious Behaviours: Some stimming behaviours, like head-banging or skin-picking, may lead to injury and require careful management.
• Interference with Learning or Social Interaction: Persistent stimming can sometimes disrupt learning or make it challenging to engage with peers.
• Potential for Social Stigma: Visible stimming behaviours may lead to misunderstandings, social stigma, or bullying, especially in settings where neurodiversity is not well understood.

How to Manage Stimming

Supporting children with autism often means finding a balance between encouraging self-expression and addressing any harmful or disruptive behaviours.

Some strategies that can help parents in managing stimming include:

1. Consult a Professional

A paediatrician or autism therapist can help identify any underlying issues contributing to stimming behaviours, such as sensory sensitivities, anxiety, or other medical conditions. In some cases, stimming may be a response to discomfort or distress that the child cannot easily express. As such, a healthcare professional may suggest therapeutic options, such as occupational therapy or Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), to address specific triggers and offer coping strategies. By working with professionals, parents can gain insights into which types of therapies may support their child’s unique needs and experiences.

2. Identify Triggers and Redirect

Tracking when and where stimming occurs can reveal patterns or triggers related to sensory, environmental, or emotional factors. Keep a journal to record details like time of day, specific settings, social interactions, and emotional states. Identifying these triggers can make it easier to support your child by preemptively addressing situations that may lead to overstimulation or distress.

If stimming becomes excessive or disruptive, gently redirect your child to an alternative activity, like a favourite toy, or move to a quieter, more comfortable space. Additionally, avoid punishment or confrontation; instead, offer calm, comforting support to help your child feel understood and secure.

Over time, you may find that by addressing the root cause of certain stims, you can create a more supportive environment that could potentially reduce the need for these behaviours.

3. Consider Therapy

Therapy can be especially helpful for children who struggle with verbal communication, providing them with tools to express their emotions and needs. By building language skills, they can express needs or feelings in ways that could reduce the intensity or frequency of stimming. A therapist can also help teach your child ways to communicate when they feel uncomfortable or require assistance, providing alternatives that could address stimming.

4. Incorporate Exercise

Physical activity can offer a productive outlet for energy and sensory needs, which could help with their urge to stim in other settings. Activities such as swimming, dancing, or rhythmic exercises (like drumming or jumping) could mimic the sensory feedback that stimming provides, satisfying sensory cravings in a structured way.

Regular physical exercise can also improve focus and provide an emotional outlet, helping children to feel more balanced and potentially aid with certain stims.

5. Encourage Safe Stimming

When stimming behaviours are harmless, encouraging them as a healthy part of your child’s self-expression can be beneficial. Scheduling regular “stim breaks” allows your child to engage in these behaviours in a structured way, creating dedicated times throughout the day for self-soothing activities. It can also be helpful to teach the concept of public versus private settings for certain stims, allowing your child to gain social awareness while preserving their need for self-regulation.

Over time, this approach fosters self-confidence and helps them understand when and where they can stim comfortably.

6. Explore Alternative Stims

For stimming behaviours that may be unsafe or highly disruptive, finding alternative methods of sensory or emotional regulation can be valuable. Work with your child to identify substitute stims, such as fidget toys, stress balls, or listening to calming music, to fulfil their sensory or emotional needs in a safer way.

By offering these alternatives, you provide options that enable your child to regulate themselves without posing a risk to their well-being. Over time, they may gravitate toward these safer methods, enabling them to embrace their unique ways of self-expression.

Finding Support in Singapore

Parents can access various resources that support their children with autism, including early intervention programmes and autism therapy in Singapore. Many early intervention centres, such as Exploring Mates, offer programmes tailored to meet various developmental needs. Our programmes include school readiness support, in-home autism therapy, and speech therapy, all designed to help children build essential skills and manage behaviours like stimming. By providing a structured yet flexible approach, we aim to help children with autism develop skills that prepare them for real-world interactions and future learning environments.

In addition to child-centred programmes, we work closely with parents to deepen their understanding of autism, stimming behaviours, and other behaviours related to autism. We help parents gain valuable insights into their children’s unique experiences and learn strategies to support their development. Through this collaborative approach, we aim to support parents in creating a nurturing and understanding environment at home. This helps in reinforcing the progress their child makes in therapy and fostering a stronger parent-child connection.

For more information about how you can support your child with autism, check out how school support therapists can be beneficial in their transition to a mainstream school environment.