25/11/2025
Today, our SEND Peer Support will be focusing on Stimming.
Stimming is often associated with Autism and is something an Autistic person does to soothe, calm or regulate themselves. It's a way to release excess energy.
Because it is done in a set way and is repeated, it is known as 'restrictive and repetitive' behaviour. This term is used in Autism diagnosis reports.
For Autistic children, stimming is more apparent and often peers or adults will tell the child to stop 'stimming' because either the movements are distracting, or the sounds are seen as 'annoying'. Stimming can be involuntary so a child may not know they are stimming. I once taught a child who would hum a tune from a particular film each time he had a handwriting lesson. He didn't know he was doing it and I don't think he could hear himself humming whereas the rest of the class could. (I am hoping this child stimmed because they found handwriting exciting!)
For Autistic adults, especially ones who have masked for a number of years, stimming is more hidden, and the adult may be conscious to it and thus stim subtly.
Some Autistic adults may show their stimming in the form of chewing the inside of their mouth, fiddling with their necklace or their pen, twirling their hair or in my case, listening to the same song over and over again!
In general, stimming is harmless and therefore not something you want to prevent a person from doing.
