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| + | '''Stimming''' is a repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner. Stimming is known in psychiatry as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement. |
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| − | Some children engage in particular behaviors (sometimes referred to as '''stimming''') which produce a stimulating effect. Examples include hand-flapping, rocking, grunting, teeth-grinding and jumping from foot to foot. |
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| + | Stimming is one of the symptoms listed by the [[Diagnosing_autism|DSM IV]] for [[autism]], although it is observed in about 10 percent of non-autistic young children. Many autistics have no stims. Common forms of stimming among people with autism include hand flapping, body spinning or rocking, lining up or spinning toys or other objects, [[echolalia]], [[perseveration]], and repeating rote phrases. <ref>"[http://www.lsi.ku.edu/lsi/internal/seminars/presentations/Crosland_K05-25-01.pdf Prevalence of stereotypy among children diagnosed with autism at a tertiary referral clinic]", K.A. Crosland, presented at the Association for Behavioral Analysis annual conference, May 25, 2001.</ref> |
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| − | Stimming usually increases when the child is excited, but in other situations can signal boredom. In stressful situations, the behavior may also increase, as a way to cope with anxiety. As a result, the appearance of these behaviors at certain times can help parents recognize their child's state of mind. |
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| + | There are many theories about the function of stimming, and the reasons for its increased incidence in autistic people. For [[hyposensitive]] people, it may provide needed nervous system arousal, releasing beta-endorphins. For [[hypersensitive]] people, it may provide a "norming" effect, allowing the person to control a specific sense, and is thus a soothing behavior. <ref>"[http://web1.greatbasin.net/~sprang/stimming.htm Stereotypic (Self-Stimulatory) Behavior (Stimming)", Stephen M. Edelson, 1995.</ref> |
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| + | ==References== |
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| + | <references /> |
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[[Category:Features of autism]] |
[[Category:Features of autism]] |
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| − | [[Category:Cleanup]] |
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Revision as of 19:17, 30 April 2007
Stimming is a repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner. Stimming is known in psychiatry as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement.
Stimming is one of the symptoms listed by the DSM IV for autism, although it is observed in about 10 percent of non-autistic young children. Many autistics have no stims. Common forms of stimming among people with autism include hand flapping, body spinning or rocking, lining up or spinning toys or other objects, echolalia, perseveration, and repeating rote phrases. [1]
There are many theories about the function of stimming, and the reasons for its increased incidence in autistic people. For hyposensitive people, it may provide needed nervous system arousal, releasing beta-endorphins. For hypersensitive people, it may provide a "norming" effect, allowing the person to control a specific sense, and is thus a soothing behavior. [2]
References
- ↑ "Prevalence of stereotypy among children diagnosed with autism at a tertiary referral clinic", K.A. Crosland, presented at the Association for Behavioral Analysis annual conference, May 25, 2001.
- ↑ "[http://web1.greatbasin.net/~sprang/stimming.htm Stereotypic (Self-Stimulatory) Behavior (Stimming)", Stephen M. Edelson, 1995.