ADHD & Potential Behavioral Issues: Stimming Explained

If you have heard of stimming before, you may well have heard about it in relation to ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

Although stimming has previously been identified as a symptom of ASD, it is actually a behavior seen commonly in many humans of all ages, abilities, background and in many without learning disabilities, delays or other discernible conditions. 

Stimming: What Is It?

Stimming means self-stimulatory behavior and is a general term used to describe any actions, patterns, movements, and other things that are used to stimulate the senses. 

The types of stimming most often seen in all types of people are humming, nail-biting, cheek biting, tapping, skin rubbing, and swaying. If you think about those symptoms, you have no doubt seen at least one person in your life stimming, or indeed noticed yourself doing this when you are bored or worried. 

Developmental Delays & Stimming

Stimming is not unique to those with disabilities of any kind and is a natural response that serves to provide comfort and control. As most people with developmental disabilities do struggle with sensory overload, stimming can also serve as a way to control that overload. With sensory processing issues, this way of using stimming is particularly common. 

People who may struggle with getting overwhelmed from sounds may scream or shout in response to lots of noise. People who struggle with things they can see may push their closed eyes or move their eyes around quickly. 

In those with developmental disability stemming is often more extreme in the way it appears, and can be very noticeable or different compared to standard self-stimulation. This is probably why many people generally think of disability when they think of stimming. Knowing how stimming works for those individuals can help you to understand how a person with sensory overload feels, as well as helping you understand your own behavior. 

ADHD & Stimming: 

ADHD does not necessarily come with intellectual issues or developmental delays. However, it is not uncommon for people with ADHD to have sensory challenges. Because of this, ADHD stimming could well be more like the kind you see in a human with ASD or similar developmental delays, rather than the type seen in neurotypical people and adults. 

ADHD people may be seen fidgeting as their form of stimming. This could come in a wide variety of forms such as: 

• Squirming in their seat

• Being disruptive

• Speaking over others 

• Loud humming

• Skin and hair picking 

• Picking

• Tapping

• Slight Rocking/Swaying

These kinds of habits are used to get some sensory input and can help ADHD sufferers calm some sensory issues they are experiencing that stop them focusing, or that are causing them to experience unpleasant sensations. 

Why Stimming Happens

Stimming is something that has a lot of functions and they can depend on the person doing them, the activity they are doing, and the environment they are in. Self-stimulating is done to cause a sensation in the body and why people do that is individual to them. These reasons can also change by the day, hour, or minute. For some people, it can be a way to gain control over a situation. For some, it can be a way to redirect focus. When this is the case, often sensory overload is at the root of what is happening. 

Stimming can be used for control in dramatic behavior like; crying, screaming, or jumping. All of these actions can help to calm a sensory system that is overloaded, by becoming the source of what is being felt. 

Some people will remove excess energy by stimming. Nail biting, tapping, fidgeting and walking back and forth can be a way to use up energy that has no other outlet. These behaviors are often seen in people with ADHD. Being hyperactive is at the heart of many ADHD symptom clusters, so getting rid of energy is not a stand out symptom within the condition, but rather it is to be expected. 

For some, stimming is used as a way to deal with boredom. This is the reason for stimming most commonly seen in those without any disability or delay. Stimming in these people is usually seen as a socially acceptable movement, like playing with hair, tapping whilst queuing or moving from heel to toe whilst waiting. These very minute ways of getting rid of energy involve the body in lots of ways and are not difficult to put into action. 

When Does Stimming Need Attention? 

Stimming doesn’t need to be addressed at all most of the time. If it does not affect daily life it doesn’t need to be seen as a problem. When it does begin to interfere with life, there needs to be intervention. This can often be the case in those with ASD and sometimes in those with ADHD, another developmental disorder. 

Daydreaming often in class or at work is a really good example of where stimming stops a person of any age functioning properly day to day. Being unable to focus on what is going on will directly impede ones ability to achieve. Similarly, speaking over other people, humming, and other types of swimming also require treatment. This is important because social skills can be heavily affected by these kinds of behaviors.

Stimming At School? 

Stimming at school is different for every pupil, even if all those pupils have the same condition. ADHD has three main symptoms, but those symptoms tend to be shown in very different ways depending on the individual. Some ADHD-ers do not have problems with sensory overload, and so they are not seen stimming, apart from a bit of fidgeting. People with sensory issues and ADHD, however, may be more likely to stim noticeably. They might talk over the educator, they may clap, hum, rock or tap. They might even get out of their chair and run around. For those people, a plan is needed to ensure that they can learn and socialize well. 

Stimming In The Home

Stimming in the home probably doesn’t need a high level of attention, but it can still need some support from parents, and professionals like counsellors. Some people suffering from ADHD can struggle to stay still at mealtimes, they might then have problems with eating and social sit down situations. Some people will have problems with concentrating and they may not get their chores done. Relationship breakdowns at home might happen as a result, which can be a problem. In more extreme cases, people may use self-harm as a stimming behavior, which requires speedy and applied intervention. 

Stimming When You Have ADHD

Although ADHD can be seen as an issue related to intellect, the effects can have an impact on a person far beyond the classroom. People with ADHD can suffer from sensory challenges, which can then make current behavioral problems worse, then causing problems with friends and family members. 

At first glance, stimming can seem to be an issue for a person with ADHD only, when in fact it can be quite useful for loved ones of the individual. The extent of the symptoms and condition can be determined by the stimming behavior, helping to show which areas the sensory issues cause the most problems. 

For some people, thinking about asking a person not to stim, is as bad as asking them not to do something they love. It seems mean. For some people, stimming that is noticeable is a problem and causes alienation, and shows how someone needs help. For this reason, it requires addressing. 

Whether your loved one with ADHD is struggling with sensory overload, or with all the symptoms of ADHD, stimming will likely appear at some point in their journey. Figuring out whether or not it is a problem will depend on your goals, and your loved ones’s goals, and how much you want to get help for behaviors deemed undesirable. 

Getting Help 

If stimming is a problem and it is interfering in your life, think about speaking to your doctor, or a therapist. They can answer any questions you have about ADHD, or stimming. They can help you gain tools you need to focus on the things that are important to you functioning in day to day life. You can also get help with social skills and training, and perhaps even suggestions for helpful medication, which should always be prescribed by a doctor.