stimming
Sign in to saveAlso known as self-stimulatory behavior, self-stimulation, Self Stimulation
thumb|alt=A person holds their hands together with a string-like toy between their fingers|An autistic adult stimming with a stim toy in their hands Self-stimulatory behavior (also called stimming, stims, self-stimulation, stereotypy, and stereotypic movement disorder) is the repetition of physical movements, sounds, words, moving objects, or other behaviors. Stimming is a type of restricted and repetitive behavior (RRB). They can be both conscious and subconscious. Such behaviors are found to some degree in all people, but are especially intense and frequent in those with developmental disabi
Research
119 papers- Chorea.Continuum (Minneapolis, Minn.) · 2022
- Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adulthood-Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment.Deutsches Arzteblatt international · 2023
- The Stimming Pool: an autistic production.The Lancet. Neurology · 2026
- Bridging the gap: fostering interactive stimming between non-speaking autistic children and their parents.Frontiers in integrative neuroscience · 2024
- 'People should be allowed to do what they like': Autistic adults' views and experiences of stimming.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2019
via PubMed
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~7 min read
Article
8 sectionsContents
- Autism
- ADHD
- Research
- Possible stimming with other conditions
- Hand flapping
- Toys
- See also
- References
thumb|alt=A person holds their hands together with a string-like toy between their fingers|An autistic adult stimming with a stim toy in their hands Self-stimulatory behavior (also called stimming, stims, self-stimulation, stereotypy, and stereotypic movement disorder) is the repetition of physical movements, sounds, words, moving objects, or other behaviors. Stimming is a type of restricted and repetitive behavior (RRB). They can be both conscious and subconscious. Such behaviors are found to some degree in all people, but are especially intense and frequent in those with developmental disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorder, or autism.
Stimming has been interpreted as a protective response to sensory overload, in which people calm themselves by blocking less predictable environmental stimuli, to which they have a heightened sensory processing sensitivity. Stimming can be a way to relieve anxiety and other negative or heightened emotions.