Introduction
Stimming
is short for ‘self-stimulatory behavior’. This means, technically, that
somebody is doing something to give themselves sensory input.
When
most people say something, it’s usually to communicate; when they do something,
it’s usually to have an effect on the world or themselves; when they look at
something, it’s usually because they’re getting information from it. You do
something because you want to achieve a consequence. When someone is stimming,
they’re speaking, moving or gazing purely to enjoy the sensation it creates,
and the state of mind that sensation produces. It can be a way of shaking up
‘hypo sensitive’ senses – that is, senses that need stronger input to feel
things. (‘Hypo’ is the opposite of ‘hyper’; it means under-sensitive.
We all need a certain amount of sensory
stimulation to feel comfortable, and if it doesn’t happen in the ordinary run
of things, stimming can be a way to get it. It’s also, according to the people
who do it, just a nice experience, something that you do because it feels good,
calming you down and helping you relax.
Stimming is a self-created sensory reward
loop: you use an ordinary moment, put it on repeat, and, basically, groove on
it. A person with Autism Spectrum Disorder can stim on almost anything; it just
needs to be something that appeals to them.
Proprioceptive
System
The proprioceptive sense refers
to the sensory input and feedback that tells us about body position, movement
and the sense of where you are in relationship to the space around you. The
receptors are located in the muscles, joints, ligaments, and other connective
tissue. Without this important system, we would not know where different parts
of our body where when not looking at each part. To give you an example, close
your eyes and take both hands and touch your ears. You were able to do this
without seeing where your ears were because of proprioceptive input. The
relation of where your ears are to the placement and movement of your hands
through space.
Proprioception
is all about body awareness, and ALL kids need this awareness for proper
development. So if the proprioceptive sense is not receiving or interpreting
the information correctly then it is a proprioceptive dysfunction. Sometimes
when a child is inaccurately processing stimuli from their environment or from
their own bodies there may be patterns that emerge showing either “sensory
seeking” or “sensory avoiding” behaviors.
Sensory
Seeking Behaviors:
- Enjoy jumping, hopping, and bumping—sometimes to the point of
being unsafe.
- Frequently
falls on floor intentionally
- Enjoy swinging.
- Touch people and objects often.
- Frequently gets up from the chair
to move around.
- Seek out or make loud noises.
- Grind teeth
- Colors too hard but writes with
low pressure.
- Bangs body parts e.g. bangs head
with hands.
- Likes to see things falling; purposefully
throws objects and watch them falling.
- Rocking, swinging, jumping, pacing, running, tiptoeing or spinning – all of which give the body’s sense of balance and position a boost.
Sensory toys to help students and
children self-regulate and just melt away the troubles that are causing big
emotions.
- Fidget spinner
- Calming bottle
- Koosh ball
- Theraputty
- Bubble wrap toys
- Tangle therapy
- Sand timer
· Calm
· Focus
· Provide Sensory Input
· Distract from worries/anxieties
· Self-Regulation
· Fine Motor
Bouncing activity:
