![]() This can be very different from the impressions or judgments of those around them.įor example, outside observers may interpret certain repetitive movements, including hand flapping, as a distress signal. Kapp's autism helps inform his work and, in recent years, there has been an increasing attempt by other researchers to draw on autistic people's views of their own experience. "So, I think a lot of researchers have struggled to understand why people engage in these behaviours." "It's something that's repetitive and soothing but even in the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the 'psychiatric Bible', these sorts of behaviours are classified as purposeless," says Steven Kapp, a developmental psychologist at the University of Portsmouth who was diagnosed with autism aged 13. For me and many others, young and old, rocking reduces anxiety. They are not out-of-control movements, but instead serve a purpose and can be a calming coping mechanism. While some forms of stimming can be harmful and should be addressed, such as a child hitting their head repeatedly against a wall, others are useful and helpful. But as with many behaviours associated with autism, the person engaging in it is not necessarily experiencing what you might think. As a result, there are various treatments aimed at changing or reducing it. Stimming can appear pointless or even disturbing to others. I also body rock occasionally, though only ever in private, because I know it makes most observers uncomfortable. Even today, I can't resist fondling cashmere or faux fur clothes in shops and will often furtively touch the back of someone's irresistibly soft coat in public. ![]() They can also include movements like hand flapping, foot shaking and finger flicking. These kinds of rhythmic repetitive actions – a common feature of autism – are known as self-stimulatory behaviour, or "stimming". Take the swirling and rocking, for example. Within those categories, there is a huge diversity of needs and experiences, as well as some common traits. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, this spectrum is divided into levels 1, 2 and 3, where those with level 3 autism require "very substantial support". ![]() It is usually categorised along a spectrum, from mild to severe. A developmental condition caused by differences in the brain, it can affect how a person absorbs, processes and responds to information. But it also raised questions, such as what might these preferences reveal about how children with autism experience the world? And how could we use this understanding to help children fulfil their potential, form friendships, and enjoy life?Īs a science journalist, I naturally look to scientific research for answers – and there is a growing body of evidence providing fascinating new insights into behaviours that were long considered a mystery.Īutism Spectrum Disorder, or autism, affects one in every 100 children, according to the World Health Organization. That includes certain childhood behaviours, from fabric-stroking to the way I played with toys and insisted on specific foods. When I was eventually diagnosed with autism much later in life – at the age of 60 – it gave me a new understanding of how and why I behave the way I do. ![]() Apart from a tendency to repetitively stroke soft fabrics or run grains of sand through my fingers, I also found swirling and gentle rocking mesmerisingly soothing. No one knew I was autistic as a child but, looking back, there were a number of sensory clues. ![]()
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