Understanding Stimming from the Eyes of Adults with Autism

Stimming, or self-stimulating behaviour, is the word that most people associate with autism. Many academics have looked at the causes, effects and management of these behaviours, one of them being the 2019 research study conducted at the University College London and University of Exeter aimed to get a deeper perspective of stimming through in-depth interviews with 32 adults with autism.

Participants defined stimming as repetitive, usually rhythmic body movements or vocalisations. Many participants said they experienced it involuntarily and unconsciously, at least at the beginning of the behaviour. This went against some earlier beliefs by academics that stimming was a controllable response.

Through the interview, researchers found four main themes or causes for stimming behaviours – overwhelming environments, sensory overload, noisy thoughts and uncontainable emotions. These causes often overlapped and linked. For example, being in the zoo where there are lots of people (an overwhelming environment) with lots of noise (sensory overload) coupled with excitement (emotions). Participants described the act of stimming to be comforting and calming and many found stimming to be essential for self-regulation.

Researchers also aimed to find out what types of social stigma the adults felt in relation to stimming. While most of the participants did not dislike their stims and did not like interventions that attempted to stop their stims, many participants had internalised their stigmatisation of stimming. Some participants reported repressing their stims in public or switching to a “less noticeable stim”, such as stimming on their legs instead of on their desks at school. Participants also reported that stimming was less acceptable once they were older too. Adults with autism reported feeling infantilised, with many people assuming that they were immature or lacking self-control.

To conclude, no participant said that stimming was thoroughly detrimental, but many felt self conscious about stimming in public. Participants agreed that other than self-injurious stims and stims that provide harm to others, stims should be accepted. Instead of suppressing all stims, which many individuals found challenging and never succeeded in doing, increased social acceptance from the public and working on changing environments to prevent triggers for stimming may be the best foot forward.

Should you or your child find stimming to be uncontrollable or affecting your daily life, Olive Tree Development Center can offer autism intervention services and autism therapy to improve your quality of life and self-esteem. Contact us or book an appointment now to get in touch with our experienced therapists.