Looking at hands "stimming"? - Autism Spectrum Message Board

TexanMom · 01-15-2007, 12:38 PM

Our son looks at his hands alot is this stimming. What can we do to help him stop this or do less of this at home and at school?

firenice · 01-15-2007, 01:44 PM

Just looking at his hands would not necessarily be considered self stimulation. Stimming is repetitive movement of some sort. Depending on the age of your child and what grade in school, various services should be available. A therapeutic aide is often assigned and sometimes a consultant to guide the aide. There are varioius interventions available to help decrease stimming.

Ocallaghan212 · 01-15-2007, 05:47 PM

My daughter stims with her hands constantly. SHe is 10 and she flaps her hands when she is excited and mad or just to do it. SHe also moves her fingers in front of her face (well more her eyes) all the time She also loves srtings or ribbons she twirls those all day of I let her. School only lets her do it in the rocking chair for a few minutes at a time.

OneKrackedMom · 01-16-2007, 02:48 PM

My son used to look at his hand a lot, he would just spread his fingers a little and put his hand up to his eyes when he was upset or over excited, I guess it was his way of "centering". He only does it once in a while now, I almost forgot about it, which is kind of funny because he used to do it at least a hundred times in a day when he was younger! We never made a big deal out of it, he has let it go on his own, and he is on the severe side of Autism. Every kid is different though.

Kris

GatsbyLuvr1920 · 01-17-2007, 10:34 AM

Yeah, stimming needs to have some sort of movement, but looking at his hands while stimming with his hands or legs would probably also factor in to help calm him. I pretty much only stim with my hands, besides rocking back-and-forth/side-to-side, and I always look at my hands in my lap, while I'm doing it. It helps block out everything, gives you something to focus on.
-GatsbyLuvr1920-