Stimming#Toys

{{short description|Repetitive self-stimulatory behaviour common in neurodevelopmental disorders}}

{{for|the German musician|Stimming (musician)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}

File:Rubbing faux-fur, July 2014.jpg

Self-stimulatory behavior (also called stimming,{{cite book |last1=Bergemann |first1=Rosalind |title=An Asperger Leader's Guide to Living and Leading Change |date=2013 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-0-85700-872-5 }}{{pn|date=November 2024}} stims,{{cite web | url=http://autismdigest.com/why-do-kids-with-autism-stim/ | title=Why Do Kids with Autism Stim? | publisher=Autism Digest | date=November 2011 | access-date=25 March 2014 | author=Temple Grandin, PhD | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331005808/http://autismdigest.com/why-do-kids-with-autism-stim/ | archive-date=31 March 2014 }} self-stimulation,{{cite book |last1=Foley |first1=Valerie |title=The Autism Experience: International Perspectives on Autism Parenting |date=2011 |publisher=ReadHowYouWant.com |isbn=978-1-4587-9728-5 }}{{pn|date=November 2024}} stereotypy, and stereotypic movement disorder) is the repetition of physical movements, sounds, words, moving objects, or other behaviors. Stimming is a type of restricted and repetitive behavior (RRB).American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical

manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author Such behaviors are found to some degree in all people, but are especially intense and frequent in those with developmental disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorder, or autism.

Stimming has been interpreted as a protective response to sensory overload, in which people calm themselves by blocking less predictable environmental stimuli, to which they have a heightened sensory processing sensitivity.{{cite book |last1=Cowell |first1=Gretchen Mertz |title=Help for the Child with Asperger's Syndrome: A Parent's Guide to Negotiating the Social Service Maze |date=2004 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-84642-042-9 }}{{pn|date=November 2024}} Stimming can be a way to relieve anxiety and other negative or heightened emotions.{{cite web | url=http://www.healthcentral.com/autism/c/1443/141549/spectrum-disorders | title=Autism Spectrum Disorders and Anxiety | publisher=Health Central | date=15 July 2011 | access-date=25 March 2014 | author=Eileen Bailey}}

File:2015 Erasmus Prize - 25 November 2015 - Stichting Praemium Erasmianum (221).JPG ceremony. ]]

Although some forms of stimming behaviors have typically been shown to be healthy and beneficial—as they help regulate intense sensory experiences, relieve intense emotions such as anxiety, may facilitate understanding and social interactions with other autistic people, may promote pleasant emotions, and facilitate sense of security—{{cite journal | url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27546330241311096 | doi=10.1177/27546330241311096 | title=Beyond self-regulation: Autistic experiences and perceptions of stimming | date=2025 | last1=Morris | first1=Isabelle F. | last2=Sykes | first2=Jesica R. | last3=Paulus | first3=Emilie R. | last4=Dameh | first4=Alharith | last5=Razzaque | first5=Aysha | last6=Esch | first6=Lauren Vander | last7=Gruenig | first7=Jenna | last8=Zelazo | first8=Philip David | journal=Neurodiversity | volume=3 }}{{cite journal |last1=Lung |first1=Stephanie Lock Man |last2=Picard |first2=Ève |last3=Soulières |first3=Isabelle |last4=Bertone |first4=Armando |title=Identifying the functions of restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests in Autism: A scoping review. |journal=Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders |date=September 2024 |volume=117 |pages=102458 |doi=10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102458 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Charlton |first1=Rebecca A. |last2=Entecott |first2=Timothy |last3=Belova |first3=Evelina |last4=Nwaordu |first4=Gabrielle |title='It feels like holding back something you need to say': Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults accounts of sensory experiences and stimming |journal=Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders |date=November 2021 |volume=89 |pages=101864 |doi=10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101864 |url=https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/30505/8/Charlton_RASD_Stimming_Author_Copy_corrections.pdf }}{{cite journal |last1=Collis |first1=E. |last2=Gavin |first2=J. |last3=Russell |first3=A. |last4=Brosnan |first4=M. |title=Autistic adults' experience of restricted repetitive behaviours |journal=Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders |date=February 2022 |volume=90 |pages=101895 |doi=10.1016/j.rasd.2021.101895 |url=https://purehost.bath.ac.uk/ws/files/227255479/RRB_Paper_revisions_clean.pdf }} stimming is often socially stigmatized. Those who are neurodivergent often feel that they should hide or decrease their repetitive behaviors because they appear to be socially unacceptable and often elicit negative reactions from those who do not understand their cause. While reducing disruptive or inherently harmful repetitive behaviors can be beneficial,{{cite journal | url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27546330241311096 | doi=10.1177/27546330241311096 | title=Beyond self-regulation: Autistic experiences and perceptions of stimming | date=2025 | last1=Morris | first1=Isabelle F. | last2=Sykes | first2=Jesica R. | last3=Paulus | first3=Emilie R. | last4=Dameh | first4=Alharith | last5=Razzaque | first5=Aysha | last6=Esch | first6=Lauren Vander | last7=Gruenig | first7=Jenna | last8=Zelazo | first8=Philip David | journal=Neurodiversity | volume=3 }}{{cite journal |last1=Ne'eman |first1=A |title=When Disability Is Defined by Behavior, Outcome Measures Should Not Promote 'Passing' |journal=AMA Journal of Ethics |date=July 2021 |volume=23 |issue=7 |pages=E569–575 |doi=10.1001/amajethics.2021.569 |pmid=34351268 |pmc=8957386 }}{{cite journal |last1=Allen |first1=Lauren Lestremau |last2=Mellon |first2=Leanna S. |last3=Syed |first3=Noor |last4=Johnson |first4=Joy F. |last5=Bernal |first5=Armando J. |title=Neurodiversity-Affirming Applied Behavior Analysis |journal=Behavior Analysis in Practice |date=25 March 2024 |doi=10.1007/s40617-024-00918-0 |doi-access=free }} there are also potential risks to mental health and well-being in suppressing and masking some autistic stimming behaviors that are not harmful or are adaptive.{{cite journal |last1=Kapp |first1=Steven K |last2=Steward |first2=Robyn |last3=Crane |first3=Laura |last4=Elliott |first4=Daisy |last5=Elphick |first5=Chris |last6=Pellicano |first6=Elizabeth |last7=Russell |first7=Ginny |title='People should be allowed to do what they like': Autistic adults' views and experiences of stimming |journal=Autism |date=October 2019 |volume=23 |issue=7 |pages=1782–1792 |doi=10.1177/1362361319829628 |pmc=6728747 |pmid=30818970 }}{{cite journal |last1=McCormack |first1=Lynne |last2=Wong |first2=Sze Wing |last3=Campbell |first3=Linda E. |title='If I don't Do It, I'm Out of Rhythm and I Can't Focus As Well': Positive and Negative Adult Interpretations of Therapies Aimed at 'Fixing' Their Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours in Childhood |journal=Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |date=September 2023 |volume=53 |issue=9 |pages=3435–3448 |doi=10.1007/s10803-022-05644-6 |pmid=35781855 |pmc=10465631 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Waizbard-Bartov |first1=Einat |last2=Ferrer |first2=Emilio |last3=Heath |first3=Brianna |last4=Andrews |first4=Derek S |last5=Rogers |first5=Sally |last6=Kerns |first6=Connor M |last7=Wu Nordahl |first7=Christine |last8=Solomon |first8=Marjorie |last9=Amaral |first9=David G |title=Changes in the severity of autism symptom domains are related to mental health challenges during middle childhood |journal=Autism |date=May 2024 |volume=28 |issue=5 |pages=1216–1230 |doi=10.1177/13623613231195108 |pmid=37691349 |pmc=10924781 }}{{cite journal |last1=Collis |first1=Emma |last2=Dark |first2=Elizabeth |last3=Russell |first3=Ailsa |last4=Brosnan |first4=Mark |title=Self-Report of Restricted Repetitive Behaviors in Autistic Adults: A Systematic Review |journal=Autism in Adulthood |date=30 August 2024 |doi=10.1089/aut.2023.0111 }}

Stimming behaviors can consist of tactile, visual, auditory, vocal, proprioceptive (which pertains to limb sensing), olfactory, and vestibular stimming (which pertains to balance). Some common examples of stimming include hand flapping, clapping, rocking, blinking, pacing, head banging, repeating noises or words, snapping fingers, toe walking, and spinning objects.{{cite web | url=http://www.healthcentral.com/autism/c/1443/155585/stimming/ | title=Stimming | publisher=Health Central | date=27 August 2012 | access-date=25 March 2014 | author=Eileen Bailey}}{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-22771894 | title=Stimming: What autistic people do to feel calmer | publisher=BBC | date=5 June 2013 | access-date=25 March 2014}} In some cases, stimming can be dangerous and physically harmful to the person doing it; for example, individuals may risk injuring themselves by forcefully banging their body parts against walls.{{Cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Lori |last2=Legg |first2=Timothy J. |date=19 February 2018 |title=What is stimming? |url=https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319714 |access-date=19 April 2022 |website=Medical News Today |quote=For some, stimming can include higher-risk behaviors such as banging their hands, head, legs, and objects, which may be potentially physically harmful.}} Another problem is that repetitive behaviors can disrupt learning and social communication for some autistic individuals in some situations.{{cite journal |last1=Lanovaz |first1=Marc J. |last2=Robertson |first2=Kirsty M. |last3=Soerono |first3=Kara |last4=Watkins |first4=Nicholas |title=Effects of reducing stereotypy on other behaviors: A systematic review |journal=Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders |date=October 2013 |volume=7 |issue=10 |pages=1234–1243 |doi=10.1016/j.rasd.2013.07.009 |hdl=1866/19828 |hdl-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Leaf |first1=Justin B. |last2=Cihon |first2=Joseph H. |last3=Javed |first3=Asim |last4=Klick |first4=Sheila |last5=Ferguson |first5=Julia L. |last6=Milne |first6=Christine |last7=Creem |first7=Ashley |last8=Arthur |first8=Shannon |last9=Saunders |first9=Melissa, S. |last10=Olive |first10=Melissa L. |last11=Ross |first11=Robert K. |last12=Leaf |first12=Ronald |last13=McEachin |first13=John |title=A call for discussion on stereotypic behavior |journal=European Journal of Behavior Analysis |date=3 July 2022 |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=156–180 |doi=10.1080/15021149.2022.2112810 |doi-access=free }}