Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsExamplesWhy People StimTriggersRisksIn ADHDManagementDiagnosing AutismWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Examples
Why People Stim
Triggers
Risks
In ADHD
Management
Diagnosing Autism
When to See a Provider
Examples of stimming include flapping one’s arms or rocking back and forth, which are often seen in people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Stimming describes self-stimulatory behaviors that involve repetitive movements or sounds.
You don’t have to be autistic to “stim.” For example, tapping your foot when you’re nervous could be an example of stimming.Stimming does look different, though, when it’s anautistic trait. Behaviors like finger flicking and twirling can become excessive and/or obtrusive in an autistic person.
1:05Click Play to Learn More About Autistic Stimming
1:05
Click Play to Learn More About Autistic Stimming
What Does Stimming Look Like?
Stimming suggestsrepetitive behaviorthat goes beyond what is considered culturally or socially acceptable.
For example, nail-biting and hair-twirling can be distracting but are usually acceptable in most social situations, like at work or school. Hand-flapping or spinning in circles—stimming examples that are common in autistic people—are less socially accepted.
Other examples of autistic stimming include:
Why Is Neurodivergent Stimming Different?People who are not autistic (neurotypical) usually stop stimming when they get a strange look from someone or otherwise recognize that their behavior is drawing attention.Autistic peopleperceive social cues and body language of people around them differently. Since they may not pick up on others' reactions to what they are doing, they may stim in situations where it’s considered socially inappropriate.
Why Is Neurodivergent Stimming Different?
People who are not autistic (neurotypical) usually stop stimming when they get a strange look from someone or otherwise recognize that their behavior is drawing attention.Autistic peopleperceive social cues and body language of people around them differently. Since they may not pick up on others' reactions to what they are doing, they may stim in situations where it’s considered socially inappropriate.
Reasons for Stimming
Although there is some debate about the actual cause of stimming, most experts consider it a tool foremotional self-regulation.
Autistic people often havesensory processingchallenges. Depending on the type of response to stimuli this causes, they may over-respond or under-respond to things like sounds, light, textures, and smells.
In these sensory situations, stimming can:
Stimming Triggers
Autistic people may stim in certain situations and in the presence of certain types of sensory input. Examples of stimming triggers include:
Is Stimming Harmful?
Many autistic people stim when they’re excited and happy, not just to defuse feelings of being overstimulated or distressed.While most stims aren’t harmful, some behaviors can be.
Stims that may need to be managed to prevent physical harm include:
Stimming can also become a problem if behaviors persist for hours or become a daily occurrence. In these cases, they may cause distress and further impair the ability to self-regulate emotions.
These stimming examples often reinforce thestigmatizationof autistic people. Potentially harmful stimming behaviors may continue and get worse if someone feels ostracized or alone.
ADHD Stimming
There are also some differences. For example, an autistic student may stim in class because the light and sound in the room are overwhelming, while a student with ADHD may find that stimming helps them focus. For other people with ADHD, stimming simply becomes a habit.
How to Manage Stimming
There is no reason to stop an autistic person from stimming if it’s not causing problems. It’s only when stims are very disruptive (such as in aschool classroom) or dangerous (e.g., causing injury) that they need to be managed.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
It can be hard to change stimming behaviors. Caregivers may thinkpunishing an autistic childwhen they stim will make them stop, but it can actually make the situation worse. Punishment ignores the core reason that a child is stimming.
Remember that stimming is a tool for coping. It is not “bad” behavior—it’s not even necessarily an intentional behavior.
There are a few techniques for helping an autistic person manage stimming:
Can Tests Diagnose the Cause of Stimming?
While it’s a central feature of autism, stimming itself is not a disorder.
Diagnosing autismcan be difficult. There is no single medical test that can specifically identify it. As aspectrum disorder, autism presents with a range of traits and support needs in different people.
The diagnosis of autism is made based on criteria that are outlined in the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA)Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition(DSM-5).
To be diagnosed with autism, a person needs to have traits that lead to persistent challenges in all three of the following DSM-5 criteria:
Diagnosis also includes expression of two of the four following behavior patterns, assessed in terms of the support needs required:
When to See a Healthcare Provider About Stimming
Stimming does not need to be medically treated unless it is harmful to the person or people around them. For example, aggressive behaviors like head-banging or hand-biting, or actions like nail-biting, self-scratching, or ear-clapping can cause physical injury.
Speak to a healthcare provider if stimming behavior fits this description. They may suggest making changes, such as taking medication if not already prescribed.
Summary
Stims are behaviors like rocking, hand-flapping, and repeating words or phrases. Autistic people engage in stimming to help manage their emotions or block out overwhelming sensations.
Stimming does not need to be treated unless it is constant, disruptive, or causes harm. In these cases, behavioral therapies, environmental changes, stress reduction tools, and even medications can be used to help manage stimming while a person learns skills to regulate their emotions.
13 Sources
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