What is Stimming?

Stimming is self-stimulatory behavior to provide sensory input or sometimes to block out unwanted sensory overload. It can be verbal (vocal), gross motor, fine motor, visual or auditory. There are as many different stims as there are ASD children. This behavior may involve any or all of the senses in various degrees in different individuals.

Some examples are ...

Visual – staring at lights, blinking, gazing at fingers, lining up objects

Auditory – tapping fingers, snapping fingers, grunting, humming

Smell – smelling objects, sniffing people

Taste – licking objects, placing objects in mouth

Tactile – scratching, clapping, feeling objects, nail biting, hair twisting, toe-walking

Vestibular – rocking, spinning, jumping, pacing

Proprioception – teeth grinding, pacing, jumping