Olfactory Stimming

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 for all individuals, regardless of whether they have ASD or not. For instance, people may bite their nails, shake their legs or tap their fingers if they’re nervous.

Stimming can occur for many reasons, but it’s commonly associated with a way that people work to cope with their emotions when they’re in an uncomfortable or stressful situation.

And while anyone can stim, it’s particularly common with children on the autism spectrum. Olfactory stimming is one type of this coping behavior, with some children tending to exhibit this form of stimming over others.

Below, we’ll discuss what olfactory stimming is and what role stimming plays in children on the autism spectrum.

Table Of Contents

What is Stimming?

Generally speaking, stimming refers to repetitive and/or self-stimulatory behaviors in which individuals engage. There are many reasons why these behaviors happen, and also many ways in which they can be expressed.

Examples include tapping fingers repeatedly or biting nails if you’re feeling nervous. Some of these stimming behaviors can be olfactory in nature, including smelling an object excessively.

Children on the autism spectrum commonly stim as a response mechanism to emotions they feel. In addition to stimming when they feel fear, anxiety or stress, they also might stim when they feel excited, bored or happy.

One of the main reasons why children with ASD stim is they feel overwhelmed in a certain situation. This could be if they’re around a large crowd of people they don’t know or if they’re in a new environment.

Stimming is a way that they work to calm themselves and regulate their emotions.

What is Olfactory Stimming?

Olfactory stimming refers to smells. Many times, it’s also directly related to oral stimming, which refers to tastes — since those senses are so closely aligned.

Examples could be licking, sniffing, chewing, grinding teeth, biting or touching different objects to their tongue or teeth repeatedly.

If your child is constantly sniffing objects or even people, or if they’re always licking objects or putting things in their mouth, this could be ways that they are olfactory or oral stimming.

Children who exhibit these olfactory and oral stimming behaviors find comfort in these behaviors, which in turn helps them to regulate their emotions.

What Triggers Olfactory Stimming?

The main trigger for stimming, regardless of the type, are emotions. Children on the autism spectrum often struggle with processing some of their emotions and then expressing how they feel and/or what they need.

When these children are stressed, for instance, they might not be easily able to tell their parents, teacher or other authority figure so they can get help. They also might not be as good at regulating their emotions as some of their peers.

As a result, they stim. Children who exhibit olfactory stimming will typically find comfort in different smells.

When they engage in these olfactory stimming behaviors, then, it helps them to self-soothe, which in turns reduces their anxiety, focuses their attention and relaxes the sensory overload. These stimming behaviors can be considered in many aspects to be the child’s way of communicating how they feel and expressing themselves.

How Does ABA Therapy Approach Olfactory Stimming?

A major part of applied behavioral analysis, or ABA therapy, is understanding that all stimming behaviors, olfactory or other, are natural for children on the autism spectrum. Because of this, it’s important that strategies are integrated into the ABA therapy treatment plan to help children manage their behaviors better.

At times, ABA therapists might encourage olfactory stimming, particularly if it’s not harmful and is safe. They might encourage the child to go to an environment that is safe and separate, where they can olfactory stim if they are feeling overwhelmed.

A major goal of ABA therapy is to identify what is triggering the child’s olfactory stimming. This then allows therapists to create the strategies that can be effective at helping children to manage stimming while also working to reduce exposure to specific triggers.

Through ABA therapy, children learn how to better self-regulate themselves. And in doing so, they can express themselves better and receive the support they need.

Blue Gems ABA Addresses Olfactory Stimming

Olfactory stimming is something that children with ASD may do more often than neurotypical individuals. It’s a way that they work to cope with their emotions and self-regulate their behaviors.

At Blue Gems ABA, our experienced BCBAs understand the important role that olfactory stimming plays for some children on the autism spectrum. That’s why we integrate coping mechanisms and strategies into all personalized ABA therapy treatment plans for our patients.

In doing so, we can better support children with autism to help them build the communication, social and daily life skills with which they commonly struggle.

To learn more, please contact us today.