Stimming Behavior in Autistic Kids

What is Autism

Autism is a disorder of neural development that is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication and by restricted and repetitive behaviour. The conditions coming under Autism Spectrum Disorders are neurological in origin, developmental in progression, and psychological in manifestation. The main forms of ASD are Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Pervasive Developmental disorder, Rett syndrome, and Childhood Disintegrative disorder. Delayed language skills, delayed cognitive or learning skills, hyper active and impulsive behavior, unusual eating and sleeping habits, gastrointestinal issues, and mood fluctuations are the characteristic features of autism spectrum disorder.

Signs & Symptoms of Autism

Early signs

• Delayed speech development
• Hyperactivity
• Preffered to play alone
• Spin objects
• Rejecting cuddles
• Sleep problems

Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Toddlers

• Poor eye contact
• Likes to play alone
• Fail to copy word or actions
• Cant wave good bye
• Continuous repetition of words
• Not pointing at anything
• Not engaging in pretended play
• Flapping their hand ,spinning in circles
• Developmental delays

Causes

• Genetic factors
• Environmental factors
• Advanced parental age
• Low birth weight
• High prematurity

Autism Spectrum Disorders

The main forms of ASD are Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Pervasive Developmental disorder, Rett syndrome, and Childhood Disintegrative disorder

Childhood Autism

Developmental disability is characterized by the onset of changes in social and language development before age of 2.5 years.

Asperger’s syndrome –

Form of ASD in which people have different behavioral and thinking patterns (rigid and repetitive)

Pervasive Developmental disorder

Form of ASD is characterized by a delay in the social and communication skills 

Rett syndrome

Rare genetic Neurological and developmental disorder with progressive loss of motor and language skills 

Childhood Disintegrative disorder

Rare condition which comes after the age of 3, characterized by a delay in language, social function, and motor skills

STIMMING

Self-stimulating behaviors, including repetitive sounds or actions, are termed as “stimming.

Body rocking, hand flapping, and finger flicking are common skimming mannerisms, we can see in autistic children.

Stimming helps the children to manage emotions, sensory overloads, sensory underactive ness

Autism-specific stimming may involve:

· Making repeated sounds 

· Rubbing or scratching the skin

· Sniffing at objects

· Abnormal eye movements

· Repetitive blinking

· Finger snapping and licking

· Pulling hair

· Repetitive arrangement of objects

· Rocking back and forth

Can stimming be controlled?

Stimming doesn’t necessarily need to be controlled unless it’s causing a problem.

Tips for management

It’s easier to manage stimming if you can find out the reason behind stimming. Understanding what they are trying to say is quite much important. Evaluate the situation just before stimming starts. What appears to be triggering the behavior? What happens?

Best Ayurvedic Treatment for Autism in Kerala – Sanjeevanam Way

Sanjeevanam Ayurveda Hospital, Kochi is one of the best autism centers in Kerala manages autism based on unmada chikitsa with a multidimensional approach by incorporating herbal medication, bio-purificatory principles of Ayurveda, tailored diet, counseling, speech therapy, and yogic practices. Multimodal individualized therapy brings significant improvements in day to day life of autistic kids 

Snehapanam,siropichu,mridusneha sodhana ,niruha and sneha vasthi ,nasya ,anjana ,utasadanam ,abhyangam ,thalapothichil , Dhara are some procedure-based therapies done in the autistic child.