Auditory stimming examples: Playing the same song over and over, clicking fingers, clapping, humming.
So, on the lighter side of things, I'm not entirely sure what the explanation is for it, but repetitively listening to the same song over and over seems to be a common trait in Autistic people.
By that definition, “listening to music” would not be considered as stimming, as it would entail repetitive actions or movements naturally physical. Though, if there is a repetitive action or movement like tapping of the feet or hands when listening to music, then yes it can be considered stimming in that sense.
Ok, then why do some people with ADHD listen to songs on repeat? If someone with ADHD is looping the same song over and over again, it may be because they've found that the redundancy of a song playing in the background is what helps them focus best.
One of my main stims, since I've been a very, very, young Autistic Person, has been revolving around music: singing, humming, dancing, rhythmically making up lyrics to things- rhythmic stimming. This goes far beyond listening to the same song on repeat, while that is something that yes, I do as well.
The brains of children with autism search for meaning in the world and are naturally attracted to music. If children with autism process speech as music, and music is highly repetitive, it's understandable for these children to repeat what they hear.
Auditory stimming uses the person's sense of hearing and sound. It may include behaviors such as: vocal sounds, such as humming. tapping on objects or ears, covering and uncovering ears, and finger-snapping.
Earworms or musical obsessions (also known as stuck song syndrome [SSS]) are common in the general population, but can be more pronounced and debilitating in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
A hyperfixation, or special interest is a highly intense interest in a subject, usually associated with autism and ADHD specifically. It can be anything: a fictional universe, a celebrity, a genre of music, a historical period.
Some say that the music is “bouncing around” inside of their heads. Others say 8D audio makes them feel as if they are surrounded by sound as if they're inside a music venue. People with ADHD, ASD, and others with neurodivergence find 8D audio to be particularly riveting, myself included.
Stimming – or self-stimulatory behaviour – is repetitive or unusual body movement or noises. Stimming might include: hand and finger mannerisms – for example, finger-flicking and hand-flapping.
Humming or singing is a common type of vocal stimming. It can be a way for individuals with ASD to regulate their sensory input and cope with the overwhelming environment around them. They may hum or sing a favorite song repeatedly, or create their own tunes.
“If we have had the experience of a certain song making us feel a certain way, we can almost be sure that listening to it again will generate those same feelings.” Your brain therefore might have formed a connection to a song without you even realising, which is why you can't resist playing it over and over again.
The first (and so far only) study of subjective experiences of music in autistic adults was done by Allen et al., (2009). The authors found that autistic adults most often use music to alter or match their moods and as a therapeutic tool (e.g., to ease emotional pain).
Pattern thinkers are in some ways, visual thinkers who instead of thinking in distinct images, see patterns in design, math, music and more in their day to day lives.
Individuals with ADHD are easily distracted by external noise; research shows that repetitive music and sounds have been found to block other random noises and lead to better attention on tasks.
Autism hyperfixation examples may include watching television, making crafts, or playing video games. A person may also take an interest in a singular subject, like outer-space or trains, and read books solely about that subject.
Earworms are considered to be a common type of involuntary cognition. Some of the phrases often used to describe earworms include "musical imagery repetition" and "involuntary musical imagery".
Earworms can be caused or triggered by the most recent song you listened to, a song or tune listened to repeatedly, a song listened to during a period of stress, or a song that connects to past events or memories.
Since our brains are faster at processing the sounds during re-listens, we are 'tricked' into thinking the ease of recognition is a positive thing. Familiarity also increases our emotional engagement with the music.
Self-stimulatory behavior is not unique to individuals on the autism spectrum and can be seen in neurotypical individuals as well.
In reality, neurotypical people stim, too - they just might not realize it. Common examples of stimming include rocking, clenching fists, tapping fingers, and humming. Some people stim in response to anxiety or stress, while others stim when they're bored or fatigued.
Stimming can take many different forms: visual: staring off into space, drawing, spinning things like pens or coins. verbal/auditory: repeating sounds, excessive giggling, constantly clearing throat. tactile: rubbing fingers, chewing/biting nails, chewing the inside of cheeks.