Self-stimulatory behavior, also known as stimming and self-stimulation,is the repetition of physical movements, sounds, words, or moving objects.
Such behaviors are found to some degree in all people, especially those with developmental disabilities and are especially frequent in people on the autism spectrum.
Stimming is thought to be a protective response to over-stimulation.
People calm themselves, with stimming, by blocking less predictable environmental stimuli, to which they have a heightened sensitivity.
It may be a way to relieve anxiety and other negative or heightened emotions.
Stimming behaviors: tactile, visual, auditory, olfactory, and vestibular stimming.
Examples of stimming include: hand flapping, clapping, rocking, excessive or hard blinking, pacing, head banging, repeating noises or words, snapping fingers, and spinning objects.
Stimming is almost always present in people on the autism spectrum disorder.
Stimming behavior is the stereotyped or repetitive motor mannerisms and listed as one of the five key diagnostic criteria of autism spectrum disorder.
Stimming involves both sensory and motor functions.
In autistic adults, unpredictable and overwhelming environments caused stimming.
It can be self-injurious, when it involves head-banging, hand-biting, excessive self-rubbing, and scratching the skin.
Managing the sensory and emotional environment and increasing the amount of daily exercise can increase comfort levels which may reduce the amount of time spent stimming.