Vestibular stimming behaviours include spinning, twirling and body rocking. These movements affect the vestibular sensory system and, like other stimming behaviour, may provide a necessary sensory input and help children with ASD feel alert, calm or to stay organised.
Why do people with Autism like to spin things (or themselves)? Self-spinning or watching things spin is an activity that stimulates the vestibular system in the body which for some people with autism is very soothing.
Babies with autism may repeat unusual movements with objects such as spinning or wobbling, knocking over and rolling, and lining things up, or other repetitive actions that are unusual for their age.
Vestibular stimming
A vestibular stim is a behavior linked to a person's sense of balance and movement. It may include: Rocking back and forth or side to side. Twirling or spinning. Jumping repeatedly.
Some individuals will experience all of these symptoms and some only a few, but behavior is key to autism diagnosis and intervention. An individual may display the following symptoms related to behavior: Self-stimulatory behavior (stimming) such as repetitive actions like rocking, spinning or hand flapping.
Remember, if children incessantly spin in circles, it is because their bodies crave that stimulation. If they roll and tumble and stand on their heads, it is because they need that sensory fix. If they rock or rhythmically sway, it helps their bodies to organize and function.
To compensate for this, sensory seeking children will often seek out lots of sensory input to give their bodies more feedback to these systems. They'll do this by jumping, spinning, swinging, crashing, squishing and other movements.
Spinning is good, and it is one of the elements that positively enhance the vestibular system. Spinning allows children to experience shifts in their weight, develop depth perception, balance, and the cause and effects of motion. Spinning is the most potent form of sensory input that the brain takes in and processes.
Vestibular stimming, such as toe walking, spinning in circles, hand flapping, and rocking back and forth, is when a person is using their balance and movement to stim. The last type of stimming behaviour is olfactory and taste stimming.
Children with ADHD and sensory issues are far more likely to have more significant stimming behaviors, including talking over the teacher, humming, rocking, tapping hands or feet, getting out of seats to run or jump, and twirling in circles.
Stimming behaviour is almost always present in people on the autism spectrum 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.
Many children show symptoms of autism by 12 months to 18 months of age or earlier. Some early signs of autism include: Problems with eye contact.
In contrast, children with autism with hypoactive sensory systems actively seek activities that involve motion. They may enjoy swinging or other activities involving motion. They may not become dizzy after spinning around in circles.
Why does this happen? Vestibular stimming behaviours include spinning, twirling and body rocking. These movements affect the vestibular sensory system and, like other stimming behaviour, may provide a necessary sensory input and help children with ASD feel alert, calm or to stay organised.
Why does my child love to spin in circles or roll down hills? Children will seek out the kind of activity they may need. Spinning is likely to mean they are enjoying the stimulation. The centrifugal force experienced on things like fairground rides activates the inner ear so the body knows it's moving.
When you are spinning in a circle your vestibular system is activated in that rotational movement causing the fluid of your inner ear to flow and hit all those receptors. You become “dizzy” because the fluid is still flowing due to the inertia.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sensory processing disorder (SPD) share similarities, but they aren't the same diagnosis.
Signs of autism in young children include: not responding to their name. avoiding eye contact. not smiling when you smile at them.
Think about the carnival rides that involve spinning, if you spin too long and too fast, the brain will react with dizziness and nausea. This reaction is the brain protecting itself from too much input. Spinning delivers potent sensory input to the vestibular system that the brain takes in and processes.
Toddler spinning is a common behavior in young children, where they spin themselves around in circles. This behavior is often seen as a way for children to explore their environment and experience the sensation of movement. It can be a natural expression of curiosity and joy in young children.