The consensus seems to be a lot of kids with neurological issues do it. Good to know. I'm always concerned that we've missed an asd diagnosis but it sounds like this alone wouldn't qualify him.

both of my kids with ADHD do it- oldest is 13. While it's always present, it waxes/wanes depending on their stress levels. My oldest is more mindful of it now and won't do it in front of non-family members.

My kid does. He runs and touches his face, and rocks in his rocking chair. Had him evaluated for autism because of of this and speech delay, but his center was convinced he didn't have it because he engages so well. I think it is self-soothing for anxiety for him. He doesn't have any diagnoses besides speech delay. It surfaces again in greater amounts with changes, then fades away as he adjust to routine. Has there been a significant change in your kid's average day recently?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually don't consider it a negative, since at the moment my child's stims don't interfere with his functioning. He actually seems to be using the behavior in a functional way to help himself calm down (walking in circles, jumping up and down). His dad stims too so there's something genetic about it.

Is that considered a stim? That seems to me to be just classic ADHD motor activity. I'm never sure what's really considered a "stim". My ADHD kid did/will do things like chewing clothes, rocking his head from side to side, repeating words in a fairly nonsensical way. I think some of those might be considered stims, but I'm not really sure.

Those are all pretty classic stims. It might be described as "sensory seeking" but that is what stims are.

Anonymous wrote:I actually don't consider it a negative, since at the moment my child's stims don't interfere with his functioning. He actually seems to be using the behavior in a functional way to help himself calm down (walking in circles, jumping up and down). His dad stims too so there's something genetic about it.

Is that considered a stim? That seems to me to be just classic ADHD motor activity. I'm never sure what's really considered a "stim". My ADHD kid did/will do things like chewing clothes, rocking his head from side to side, repeating words in a fairly nonsensical way. I think some of those might be considered stims, but I'm not really sure.

Anonymous wrote:I actually don't consider it a negative, since at the moment my child's stims don't interfere with his functioning. He actually seems to be using the behavior in a functional way to help himself calm down (walking in circles, jumping up and down). His dad stims too so there's something genetic about it.

Is that considered a stim? That seems to me to be just classic ADHD motor activity. I'm never sure what's really considered a "stim". My ADHD kid did/will do things like chewing clothes, rocking his head from side to side, repeating words in a fairly nonsensical way. I think some of those might be considered stims, but I'm not really sure.

I would not say mine interfere with functioning but I don't think stims usually do. Don't they usually serve a purpose for the brain? I think they provide my son with a release and are exciting.

I actually don't consider it a negative, since at the moment my child's stims don't interfere with his functioning. He actually seems to be using the behavior in a functional way to help himself calm down (walking in circles, jumping up and down). His dad stims too so there's something genetic about it.

Op here - my kid only does it when excited or overwhelmed also.

I've seen it ramp up in my 5-year-old as this last year of preschool winds down. Since there are no other delays it seem likely that he will eventually be diagnosed with complex motor stereotypies. His movements are primarily limited to when he's excited or really engrossed, though I'm also suspecting that anxiety is playing a role in all of this.

Based on other posts, I'm also starting to wonder if an ADHD diagnosis is in his future, too.

Oh, yeah, my ADHD kid stims a lot, especially when symptoms are less under control. So good to read the poster who says his kid outgrew it all. Doubt this is in the cards for my boy-o, but like to hear the hope.

Anonymous wrote:My kid stims a ton. Seems to be ramping up at 5. Mirror stuff, visual stims, flapping a ton. He doesn't have asd and I'm not avoiding any kind of label. He does have ADHD and motor planning issues and fine motor delay. Did anyone else have a lot of stims without an asd diagnosis?

My kid has ADHD, anxiety and DCD. Tested for ASD every few years and never had it.

Stimmed when excited. Still does occasionally but usually only when home/alone.

I have observed the same in my likely ADHD 4.5 year old. I think the demands of life are greater and their bodies are getting more energy!

We had a bit, not a lot, but definitely some. My son has ADHD and anxiety. He outgrew it all.

My kid stims a ton. Seems to be ramping up at 5. Mirror stuff, visual stims, flapping a ton. He doesn't have asd and I'm not avoiding any kind of label. He does have ADHD and motor planning issues and fine motor delay. Did anyone else have a lot of stims without an asd diagnosis?