Visual Stimming

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 bite your nails, tap your fingers or shake your legs. There are many reasons why people stim, but the behavior is almost always associated with helping people cope with a situation where they feel uncomfortable or stressed.

Even though anyone can stim, it’s particularly president in children with autism. Visual stimming is just one type of this coping behavior, with some children tending to exhibit it over other types.

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

Table Of Contents

What is Stimming in General?

Stimming refers to any repetitive and/or self-stimulatory behavior an individual engages in. As mentioned, there are many reasons why the behaviors might happen, and a number of different ways in which they can be expressed.

This could include tapping fingers or biting nails if you’re feeling nervous, for instance. It could also be visual in nature, such as constantly staring at moving objects such as a ceiling fan.

Children on the autism spectrum will usually stim in response to the emotions they’re feeling. In addition to doing it when they feel fear, stress and anxiety, they may also stim if they feel happy, excited and bored.

One of the common reasons why children with autism stim is because they are feeling overwhelmed in a situation. This might be because they’re in a new environment or around a lot of people they don’t know.

Their stimming behaviors are ways that they can regulate their emotions and calm themselves down.

What is Visual Stimming?

Visual stimming refers to anything to do with a person’s sense of sight or their eyes. It could include looking at a moving object repeatedly or being fixated on turning the lights on and off repeatedly.

If your child is constantly staring at certain objects, you might be observing them visual stimming. No matter how it manifests itself, visual stimming involves a person’s eyes and vision in general.

Children who exhibit visual stimming behaviors typically find comfort through these behaviors, which then allow them to regulate emotions.

A good way to help children manage their visual stimming is to provide them with sensory lighting. These devices constantly change colors, which can mesmerize them.

What Triggers Visual Stimming?

The main trigger for all types of stimming is usually emotion. Most children on the autism spectrum struggle with processing their emotions and expressing how they feel and what they need.

If they feel stressed, for instance, they might find difficulty explaining how they feel to a parent, teacher or other authority figure — all of whom could provide support. They might also not have the ability to regulate emotions in typical ways.

In response to this, they might exhibit a stimming behavior. Children who participate in visual stimming usually find comfort in seeing certain movements or lights.

By engaging in these stimming behaviors, they are able to reduce their anxiety, focus their attention, self-sooth and relax any sensory overload. These visual stimming behaviors are the child’s way of communicating their emotions and expressing themselves.

How Does ABA Therapy Approach Visual Stimming?

ABA therapy, or applied behavioral analysis, understands that all stimming behaviors — visual stimming includes — are natural responses for children on the autism spectrum. Because of this, it’s very important to provide them with strategies for how they can manage their behaviors more effectively.

ABA therapists might encourage visual stimming behaviors, particularly ones that are safe and not harmful. For instance, they might encourage the child to go to a safe room in a home where they can visual stim if they’re feeling like they’re overwhelmed.

One of the goals of ABA therapy is identifying the triggers of visual stimming. This allows therapists to create specific strategies to help children with autism manage their stimming in an effective way, while also potentially reducing their exposure to whatever the triggers may be.

Through ABA therapy, children learn how to self-regulate better, which helps them to express themselves and get whatever support they might need.

Blue Gems ABA Addresses Visual Stimming

Visual stimming is a behavior that many people engage in, but that is particularly present in children on the autism spectrum. It’s done as a way to cope with emotions and self-regulate.

At Blue Gems ABA, we understand the important role that visual stimming plays for some children with ASD. Our experienced BCBAs integrate coping mechanisms and other strategies into the overall treatment plan to better support children with autism as they build their communication, social and daily life skills.

To learn more, please contact us today.