Reframing Stimming: A Neuro-Affirming Approach to Self-Stimulatory Behavior
One of the key features of autism is the presence of restricted or repetitive interests and behaviors. This can look like intense interest in extremely niche topics, rigid adherence to certain rules and routines, and a tendency to engage in repetitive movements. This motor stereotypy— which can include rocking, jumping, hand flapping, and making repeated vocalizations— is known as self-stimulatory behavior, or stimming. Tapping your foot while you wait in line, nervously tucking your hair behind your ear, and even scrolling through your phone are also examples of stimming. Everybody stims, neurodivergent or not.
However, because Autistic people tend to stim more obviously and frequently than neurotypicals, our stims are often seen as excessive, maladaptive, and undesirable simply because they deviate from neurotypical behavior norms. This leads to the all-too-common belief that stimming is a problem that requires fixing.
In reality, however, stimming is a normal, necessary behavior. Most of the time, even though stimming is a voluntary action, it’s automatic. It’s a default behavior that comes from the way we naturally process and interact with the world. Autistic people have the urge to stim like you have the urge to scratch an itch or smile when you’re happy. Many Autistic self-advocates have expressed the myriad ways they benefit from their stims. Stimming can provide sensory input that their nervous systems crave. It can be soothing in unfamiliar or uncomfortable environments. It can be an incredibly effective self-regulation tool that helps them navigate the overwhelming chaos of a world designed for neurotypical minds. In short, these advocates say that stimmimg is a GOOD thing and that suppressing their stims can be incredibly traumatic.
At Signature, we are committed to celebrating neurodiversity and listening to Autistic voices. As a result, we recognize the value of self-stimulatory behavior and never try to eliminate non-harmful stimming. We don’t teach our clients to have “quiet hands” and instead delight in wiggly fingers and happy flappy wrists. Nothing makes us happier than seeing our learners safely self-regulating and engaging with the world in their own unique ways. Moreover, we recognize that stimming, like all behavior, is a form of communication. When we watch our clients stim— when we watch them spin when they’re excited, or tap their fingers when they’re focused, or tug their ears when they’re tired— we get a window into their internal states, which is especially valuable for learners who may otherwise struggle to express how they’re feeling due to things like communication challenges or poor interoception.
While stimming is meaningful for many, it’s important to note that sometimes certain stims can be dangerous or inappropriate. Some stims, like excessive scratching or head-banging pose risks to a person’s well-being. When working with clients who engage in these types of stims, we work to decrease the frequency of these types of behaviors by addressing the underlying reasons and teaching safer responses. For example, if a client pulls their hair because they find the sensory experience of running their hands through strands of hair soothing, we might teach them to rub a furry pillow or to fidget with a similar toy. If harmful stims occur when a client is overwhelmed, we might help them learn to recognize signs of distress in themselves and use safer coping tactics to self-soothe.
At Signature, we cherish our clients, and we never want them to feel they have to suppress parts of themselves in order to be accepted. Our goal for each child who comes through our doors is to help them develop the tools and skills they need to be as happy, independent, and successful as possible. That’s why we continue to listen and learn from the autistic community about things like stimming and why we prioritize the dignity and safety of our clients above all else. We strive to be a beacon of inclusion that not only accepts but also embraces our learners’ uniqueness and empowers them to live their best lives as their authentic autistic selves, stims and all.
About the Author:
Kennedy O. Onuoha is a dog lover, bookworm, and chocolate milk connoisseur. She began working as a Behavior Technician at Signature in 2022 after graduating from Johns Hopkins University with degrees in psychology and molecular and cellular biology. Being autistic herself, Kennedy is quite passionate about embracing neurodiversity, and she loves helping autistic children hone their strengths and develop new skills. When she's not working or studying, Kennedy can typically be found writing, playing piano, or training her dog, Aura.