Episodes of Repetitive Behaviour And Stimming In Autism
The clinical diagnosis uses two parameters to define autism, one of which is restricted interests and repetitive activities. But this area of interest covers a broad spectrum of characteristics that individuals with autism may exhibit singly or in combination, and to varying degrees of severity. So, let’s go on further to know about these two domains.
What exactly are repetitive behaviours?
Repetitive behaviours are divided into two categories by scientists. Movements like fiddling with objects, body swaying, and vocalisations like grunting or repeating sentences are examples of so-called "lower-order" repetitive activities. Autism characteristics including routines and rituals, emphasis on uniformity, and obsessive interests are examples of "higher-order" repetitive behaviours.
Other disorders of the developing brain are also known to cause repetitive motor activities. For instance, a lot of Rett syndrome sufferers wring or grip their hands nonstop. Additionally, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia all exhibit repetitive tendencies.
How did the significance of repeated behaviours in autism come to be recognised?
One of the earliest indications of autism in toddlers is repetitive behaviour. People on the entire autism spectrum disorder exhibit them. However, they are typically more obvious in people with weaker cognitive abilities.
However, social challenges and communication issues have received most of the attention in autism studies during the past several decades. Repetitive actions were therefore not thoroughly investigated or comprehended. These activities have been increasingly important to scientists' understanding of autism during the past ten years.
The link between Stimming and Repetitive Behaviour
It's frequent to refer to a subset of repetitive movements as "stimming," including hand flapping, whirling, and vocalisations. This is a shortened form of the clinical term for self-stimulatory behaviour, which some autistic persons have adopted. They have also discussed the significance of their "stims" in public. The phrase "stimming," according to some studies, may make it harder for people to accept recurrent actions.
Do repetitive actions extend beyond self-stimulation?
There isn't much solid research available to address this issue. According to some researchers, repeated routines can help autistic children block off the outside world. Others contend that the behaviours are meaningless and only reveal an unbalanced neurological system.
However, autistic persons have claimed a wide range of purposes for their repetitive activities during the past few years.
They claim that sometimes, partaking in these actions just feels wonderful. Past that point, repetitive activities may provide these people with a means of reducing anxiety, generating or maintaining body awareness, concentrating, or coping with overpowering sensations or emotions. Additionally, they might aid autistic people in expressing their mental or emotional states to others. Depending on the circumstance or mood, the same conduct may serve several goals in many individuals, or even in the same individual at various times.
Can routine actions have a negative effect?
Well, sometimes it could be difficult. Autism prevents some people from participating in vital tasks, like learning in school, due to intense or persistent repetitive behaviours. They can occasionally lead to harm to others or self-harm, like when someone repeatedly slams their head against a wall.
In addition to these negative effects, repeated activities can cause other people's attention to wander or if they are viewed as weird by others, they can have social repercussions for autistic kids, making it more difficult for them to make connections or get employment.
Management of Repetitive Behaviour
Autism repetitive behaviour treatment options are lacking. Clinicians spent a long time trying to get rid of repeated behaviours in autistic people. This occasionally required using drastic measures, such as giving the kids strong antipsychotic medications etc. Nowadays, many doctors are debating whether the actions even call for treatment, unless they endanger the autistic person or other people physically. Clinicians may attempt to determine the function of behaviour when it is disrupting or prohibiting an autistic person from engaging in school and perhaps other activities.
For instance, if a kid with autism finds that twirling in circles calms his/ her nervousness in class, her doctor would look for ways to lessen the anxiety or recommend another calming activity that is less distracting.
Autistic people may need assistance coming up with techniques to postpone engaging in some activities until they are alone or with people who won't judge them. Or perhaps the only thing that needs to change is society, not autistic individuals.
