If you’ve ever noticed your child engaging in repetitive behaviors like hand flapping, rocking, or making vocal sounds, you may have wondered if it’s cause for concern. These actions, known as self-stimulatory behaviors or “stimming,” are actually quite common, especially among children with autism.
Stimming is a very common characteristic for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Take Joseph, for example. Joseph came to our clinic in October of 2022 for a 2-week Neuro Intensive Program, struggling every day with the neurological effects of Autism, anxiety, constipation, and gross motor skills challenges.
Watching Joseph become calmer with each adjustment was incredible. The tension in his shoulders and arms relaxed almost immediately, leading to a significant reduction in his stimming within days.
His neurological healing took off from there; instead of anxiety and tension, he was smiling and even eager to work out!
In just two weeks, he made remarkable progress, and now at home, he continues care with another Neurologically-Focused PX Doc, reaching his full potential every day. One of our main goals was to help him with his autism stimming, the focus of this article.
The Roots of Autism Stimming
As a parent, it’s natural to feel unsure about what stimming means for your child and how to respond. You might even have been told that it’s just a quirk your child will outgrow. But the truth is, stimming serves an important purpose for many children on the autism spectrum, helping them cope with overwhelming sensory input, express emotions, and self-regulate.
A recent study of adults on the autism spectrum revealed that approximately 80% said stimming reduces their anxiety and helps them calm down.
There is a groundbreaking approach that addresses the root neurological imbalances behind stimming, opening up a path to lasting improvements in your child’s regulation and overall well-being.
So whether your child’s stimming involves flapping their hands, rocking back and forth, or making repetitive sounds, know that you’re not alone—and that there is hope. By understanding stimming on a deeper level and empowering yourself with the right knowledge and support, you can help your child thrive.
What Does Stimming Look Like?
Stimming can take many forms, but all involve repetitive body movements or sounds. Some common autism stimming examples include:
Motor Stims
- Hand flapping or waving
- Rocking back and forth
- Spinning in circles
- Head banging
- Pacing or jumping
- Finger flicking or snapping
Vocal Stims
- Repeating words or phrases (echolalia)
- Making grunting, humming, or other sounds
- Singing or reciting lines from movies or books
Sensory Stims
- Staring at lights or spinning objects
- Lining up or arranging toys or objects
- Rubbing or scratching surfaces
- Sniffing or licking objects
- Covering eyes or ears
It’s important to note that while many people engage in self-soothing behaviors from time to time, stimming in autism tends to be more frequent, intense, and persistent. A child with Autism Spectrum Disorder may experience “happy stimming” as a way to express joy for extended periods and have difficulty stopping or controlling the stimming behavior.
These stimming examples can also be more noticeable and socially stigmatizing than typical self-soothing habits. While a neurotypical child might twirl their hair when anxious, a child with autism might loudly vocalize or vigorously flap their hands, drawing attention from others.
At its core, stimming is believed to serve as a way to regulate sensory input. Children with autism often have differences in how they process and respond to sensory information, which can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed or understimulated. Engaging in repetitive behaviors may help them manage these sensory issues and feel more regulated.
Interestingly, research suggests that stimming may be related to the body’s proprioceptive sense—the awareness of where one’s body is in space. Proprioceptive input, like deep pressure or physical movement, can have a calming effect. It’s theorized that stimming behaviors may be an attempt to provide this regulating proprioceptive feedback.
By understanding the “why” behind stimming, we can develop more effective, compassionate strategies to support children’s regulation.
The Neurological Roots of Stimming in Autism
To truly understand stimming, we need to dive into the complex world of the nervous system. At the heart of many autism-related challenges, including stimming, lies an imbalance in the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).
The ANS controls involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and breathing. It has two main branches:
- The sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which activates the “fight, flight, or freeze” response in times of stress
- The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which promotes “rest, regulate, and digest” functions and helps regulate emotions
In autism, the SNS is often overactive, while the PNS is underactive. This imbalance, known as dysautonomia, can leave a child in a chronic state of hyperarousal and sensory overload. Their nervous system gets stuck in “fight or flight” mode, making it difficult to relax, regulate emotions, and process sensory input effectively.
The Vagus Nerve: A Key Player in Regulation
The vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve in the body, plays a critical role in this process. As a key component of the PNS, the vagus nerve helps promote feelings of calm and safety. When it’s functioning optimally, it acts as a brake on the stress response, enabling a child to self-regulate.
However, in many children with autism, the vagus nerve is underactive or even “stuck,” unable to effectively counter the SNS’s hyper-reactivity. This can be due to a combination of factors, including:
- Subluxation: Misalignments or tension in the spine and nervous system that impair neural communication
- Birth trauma: Physical or emotional stress during the birthing process that impacts nervous system development
- Environmental stressors: Toxins, infections, or psychosocial stress that further dysregulate the Autonomic Nervous System
We call this combination of factors the “Perfect Storm,” as it creates a domino effect of nervous system dysregulation that can manifest as stimming and other autism-related challenges.
Proprioception, Nociception, and Dysponesis
Remember how we mentioned that stimming might be related to the body’s proprioceptive sense? Proprioception refers to our awareness of where our body is in space and how it’s moving. It’s the sense that allows us to walk without looking at our feet or touch our nose with our eyes closed.
Studies have shown that In Autism Spectrum Disorder, proprioceptive processing shows a pattern of impairment compared to neurotypical children. The brain may not receive accurate information about body movements and position, leading to feelings of disorientation or discomfort. Some autism stimming behaviors, like rocking or hand flapping, may be an attempt to provide the nervous system with regulating proprioceptive input.
Related to this is the concept of nociception, the nervous system’s perception of harmful or potentially harmful stimuli. In some children with autism, nociceptive signals may be misinterpreted or amplified, leading to a state of chronic stress and hypervigilance.
This faulty nociceptive processing, combined with impaired proprioception, can result in what’s known as dysponesis: a disorganized and inefficient pattern of neuromuscular activity. Dysponesis can further perpetuate the cycle of ANS dysregulation and sensory processing difficulties.
Finding Dysponesis on NeuroCore EMG Scans
The images above are from an incredible piece of cutting edge technology that PX Docs use in their office to help find the root cause of autism stimming and so many other neurosensory challenges in kids. This child’s NeuroCore EMG scans indicate excessive tension, hypertonicity, and nociception in the areas of green, blue, red, and black, and then the bottom left scan shows significant asymmetrical subluxation + tension patterns, very commonly seen with stimming.
So, what does this all mean for a child who stims? Essentially, their nervous system is stuck in a state of imbalance and dysregulation, unable to effectively regulate sensory input, emotions, and arousal. Stimming behaviors emerge as a way to cope with this dysregulation, providing a sense of predictability, control, and sensory feedback in a world that feels overwhelming.
By understanding the neurological underpinnings of stimming, we can approach it with greater compassion and insight. Rather than simply trying to eliminate the behavior, we can focus on supporting the nervous system’s healthy development and regulation.
Strategies for Managing Stimming in Autism
As we’ve seen, stimming serves a purpose for children with autism, helping them regulate their nervous system and cope with sensory overload. As such, the goal shouldn’t necessarily be to eliminate stimming altogether, but rather to manage it when it becomes disruptive or harmful.
So, how do you know when stimming has crossed that line? Here are a few signs to look out for:
- The stimming is interfering with learning, socialization, or daily activities
- The stimming is causing physical harm to the child or others (e.g., head banging, self-biting)
- The stimming is socially stigmatizing and impacting the child’s self-esteem or relationships
If you’ve determined that your child’s stimming has become problematic, here are some strategies to help:
1. Modify the Environment
Many children with autism stim more in environments that are overstimulating or stressful. By making some simple modifications, you can help reduce the need for stimming:
- Reduce visual clutter and noise in the home or classroom
- Provide a quiet, calming space for the child to retreat to when feeling overwhelmed
- Use gentle lighting and avoid fluorescent lights that can flicker or hum
- Incorporate sensory-friendly textures and materials in the child’s clothing and surroundings
- Establish predictable routines to reduce anxiety and transitions
2. Teach Replacement Behaviors
While stimming serves a regulatory function, there may be more socially appropriate ways for your child to get the same sensory input or emotional release. Some ideas:
- Provide alternative fidget toys or sensory objects that offer similar input (e.g., stress balls, chewable jewelry)
- Teach deep breathing, yoga, or other calming techniques as a replacement for stimming
- Encourage alternative gross motor activities like jumping on a trampoline, swinging, or dancing
- Practice social scripts or role-play to teach appropriate ways to express emotions or self-regulate in public
3. Develop Self-Regulation Skills
Ultimately, the goal is to help your child develop the skills to regulate their own nervous system and emotions. This is a gradual process, but some strategies that can help:
- Use visual schedules and social stories to prepare for transitions or stressful situations
- Teach emotion identification and labeling to help your child recognize and communicate their feelings
- Practice self-calming techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or visualization
- Encourage regular exercise and movement breaks throughout the day
- Model healthy self-regulation and coping strategies yourself
4. Seek Professional Support
Managing autism stimming is complex, and you don’t have to do it alone. Working with professionals who understand the neurological basis of stimming can be invaluable in developing a comprehensive plan for your child.
While occupational therapists can help identify sensory triggers and develop appropriate coping strategies, and speech therapists can work on replacing vocal stims with more functional communication, it’s important to add a Neurologically-Focused Pediatric Chiropractor to the team in order to find and address stimming at its deepest root cause layer, subluxation and nervous system dysregulation.
If you feel like you’ve already exhausted all the modifications and traditional therapies and your child’s stimming is still the same or getting even worse, be sure to get connected with your local PX Doctor and seek out Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care right away, as that is a sure sign that the real root cause is locked even deeper within the neurospinal system.
The PX Docs Approach: Addressing the Root Causes of Stimming
As we’ve explored, stimming in autism is not just a behavioral quirk, but a reflection of underlying nervous system dysregulation. While traditional approaches often focus on managing outward signs, the PX Docs approach aims to address the root neurological causes. At the heart of this approach is Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care.
Identifying Nervous System Imbalances
The first step in the PX Docs approach is to assess the child’s nervous system function using cutting-edge technology called INSiGHT scans. These non-invasive scans provide a detailed look at the child’s neurological health, including:
- Areas of subluxation or dysfunction within the neurospinal and neurosensory system
- Patterns of autonomic imbalance, such as sympathetic dominance or vagal withdrawal
- Indicators of sensory processing difficulties or dysregulation
Armed with this information, PX Docs chiropractors can develop a highly personalized care plan to support the child’s unique needs and challenges.
A Path to Thriving
Stimming is a complex and often misunderstood aspect of autism. For too long, these repetitive behaviors have been dismissed as meaningless quirks or attempts to misbehave. But as we’ve seen, stimming serves a vital purpose for children with autism, helping them cope with a world that can feel overwhelming and dysregulating.
By understanding the neurological roots of stimming—the autonomic imbalances, sensory processing difficulties, and subluxation patterns—we can approach these behaviors with greater compassion and insight. We can shift our focus from simply eliminating stims to supporting the healthy development of the nervous system.
By identifying and addressing the underlying imbalances in the brain and body, Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care can help children with autism build a foundation for better regulation, communication, and overall quality of life. We encourage you to visit our PX Docs directory to find a provider near you.
The journey may not be easy, but it’s one worth taking, because every child deserves the chance to live a life of joy, connection, and limitless possibility.
