Stimming

Stimming behavior is almost always present in autistic people, but does not, on its own, necessarily indicate the diagnosis. The biggest difference between autistic and non-autistic stimming is the type of stim and the quantity of stimming. Different perspectives suggest that stimming involves both sensory and motor functions. Underdevelopment of these sensorimotor functions can result in stimming behaviors produced by the person as a controllable response. One study which interviewed thirty-two autistic adults found that unpredictable and overwhelming environments caused stimming. As it serves the purpose of self-regulation and is mostly done subconsciously, stimming is difficult to suppress. Managing the sensory and emotional environment while increasing the amount of daily exercise can increase comfort levels for the person, which may reduce the amount of the need for stimming. Consciously or subconsciously suppressing stimming with the aim to present as neurotypical is one type of autistic masking. It typically requires an exceptional effort and can negatively impact mental health and well-being. == ADHD ==

Stimming is practiced by some, but not all, people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The cause is not thoroughly understood, but experts believe stimming is likely linked to the effects of the dopamine imbalance that occurs in the brains of people with ADHD. Some of the reasons people with ADHD might stim include to help them focus, to process and deal with their emotions, to help to deal with boredom, to express excitement, to cope with being overwhelmed by their environment, and to help them concentrate when they are uninterested with a topic or task. For people with ADHD, stimming can change over time. Some stims may lessen or disappear over time, while other stims can emerge as the result of other stressors. ADHD symptoms can be aggravated by certain environments, situations, and emotions, which will trigger stimming behavior. Some of these triggers include situations involving certain emotions like conflict and rejection, distractions caused by television and phones, environments that are messy or busy, strong or distracting odors, and intense lighting. ==Research==

Possible stimming with other conditions Hand flapping Flapping of the hands (usually both at once) is one of the most common signs of autism, but also appears in Angelman syndrome and Pitt–Hopkins syndrome, which are not believed to be related to autism. Whether hand flapping in these syndromes fits under a wider definition of stimming is a matter of terminology; the term stereotypy is often used in literature about Angelman syndrome, for example. Hand-flapping is also seen in fragile X syndrome patients; while fragile X syndrome correlates strongly with autism, hand flapping can also be seen in fragile X patients who do not meet the criteria for autism. == Toys ==

Small objects known as stim toys or sensory toys may be used to satisfy a person's stimming behaviours. A stim toy may be specially designed for a specific stimming behaviour, such as a fidget toy, or it may be any ordinary object that a person can manipulate to perform the desired stimming behaviour. Many popular stim toys are held in the hands; they may also provide oral stimulation, such as . == See also ==