question about stimming

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
question about stimming
2
Thu, 10-06-2005 - 9:24pm

My daughter doesn't have an official diagnosis yet (appointment with a dev ped in a month) but we're assuming that she's PDD-NOS. But I have a question that I fear is going to make me seem very ignorant... When people talk about stimming, I'm not sure what kinds of behaviors that encompasses. I mean, I know that it's self-stimulating behavior, but could someone give me some examples? I'm asking because I don't believe I've ever seen DD engage in any kind of stimming, but it's very possible that she does and then I just don't recognize it as stimming -- does that make sense? Often, DD has behaviors that I just think are cute little quirks, and then I find out later that they're symptomatic of some larger problem.

Okay, and while I'm outing myself as a complete newbie, I was also wondering what NT stands for? I mean, I understand that it's referring to a child who doesn't have ASD, but what exactly do the letters stand for?

Thanks, and I hope I don't sound too ridiculous...

Jennifer

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Thu, 10-06-2005 - 10:00pm

Jennifer,

There are no stupid questions.

Stimming is a repetitive "thing" our kids often do. It can be physical movements: hand flapping, finger play, head shaking or banging, hair stroking. Some movements which seem normal but are excessive, such as finger or foot tapping.

They can vocal stims, like repeating a word or phrase over and over again. Also vocalizations such as grunting, squealing, squeaking or speaking in funny voices could be considered stims if excessive.

I'm sure I left some stuff out.

NT stands for Neurologically Typical (or neurotypical for short)

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
Thu, 10-06-2005 - 10:20pm

Jennifer,

That's ok, I didn't know all the lingo either when we started down this road!! Nathan's stimming didn't become real noticeable til he started preschool. I really didn't know that there was an actual name for it, but it was a bit odd. He did verbal stims. He would stare into space or even move his eyes around the room rapidly....and make noises. They were kinda humming, sighing noises. Really freaked me out at first. I even warned his preschool teacher, but when he finally felt comfortable to do it at school.....it made her freak out too!!! LOL

When he stims, he seems to disconnect from the world around him. He's really "thinking"...that's what he tells me. For him, thinking in his world is easier to do, than thinking in our world. He has other stims too, but this is the one he does the most.

Michelle