If you have ever noticed your child rocking back and forth when excited, pacing around the living room or tapping their fingers rhythmically, you have observed stimming. Short for self-stimulatory behavior, stimming includes repetitive physical movements, vocalizations or object manipulations.1 While stimming is a universal human behavior – neurotypical individuals often chew pens, twirl their […]

Communication takes many forms. For children on the autism spectrum, expressing thoughts, needs and emotions doesn’t always follow a predictable path. Parents often notice their child repeating phrases, sentences or entire dialogues heard hours, days or even weeks earlier from a favorite cartoon, a parent’s gentle reminder or a classroom instruction. This pattern of speech […]

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) process things differently than others. Their neurodevelopmental disorder affects them in many ways, and it starts with how the brain functions and processes information. While the signs and symptoms of autism can span a wide spectrum, it is commonly characterized by a deficit in communication and social interaction, as […]

Self-stimulatory behaviors, also known as stimming, is commonly associated with children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, stimming is by no means exclusively something that only people with autism do.1 In fact, stimming is quite common among neurotypical individuals, both with children and adults. Stimming may look a little different in individuals with autism […]

Part of the Comprehensive Guide to Stimming While autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects people in many different ways, there are some common challenges that people who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically face. This includes difficulty with social interactions and communication in general, as well as restrictive interests and repetitive behaviors. There are […]

Part of the Comprehensive Guide to Stimming When children are young, they engage in many behaviors that aren’t appropriate as they age. This could include putting non-food items in their mouth, banging on furniture and pinching other people or themselves. Some of these behaviors are how children learn the world around them. In time, children […]

Part of the Comprehensive Guide to Stimming Self-stimulatory behaviors, or stimming, is often associated solely with children who have a developmental disorder such as ADHD or autism. However, stimming is actually something that can occur in any individual, regardless of their abilities. People who are nervous, for example, might tap their fingers or shake their […]

Part of the Comprehensive Guide to Stimming Self-stimulatory behaviors are often associated with children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as other disorders such as ADHD. That being said, stimming, as it’s known, is actually something that many people do every day. If you feel nervous, for example, you might […]

Part of the Comprehensive Guide to Stimming Children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly struggle to understand and express their own emotions. When they are feeling overwhelmed, then, they might express themselves and work to self-regulate through what are known as self-stimulatory behaviors. Stimming, as it’s known, is actually a common practice […]

Part of the Comprehensive Guide to Stimming Self-stimulatory behavior is something that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD and other disorders commonly engage in as a way to regulate their emotions and calm themselves. Stimming, as it’s known, is also a behavior that some neurotypical individuals engage in as well. When people feel overwhelmed, […]