Re: Re: STIMMING QUESTION TO DR JM

August 10, 2004

Pisinaris,

Your notes on your son's stimming are interesting and revealing. Each child's

stimming patterns seem to be unique (and variable), just as each child is

uniquely on the spectrum. There are motifs that are shared, however. Looking at

his stimming as a form of communication, it is clear--as you say--that the main

thread of his message is that when he is not engaged, he has fewer productive or

acceptable " pathways " to discharge his innate store of energy except through the

verbal stimming. The stim says: " There's activity in me that has no expression

at the moment except `Ahh, ahhh. I am not focused enough right now to

specifically express what is going on inside.' " Although he is generally able

to express himself, in that moment his neurology is not fully up to the task

(Boredom is such a loose a term--like laziness--and doesn't do justice to the

subtleties of the what is going on.)

All kids (and adults!) go through these times regularly. NT people simply have

clearer (and more acceptable) ways to let us know what;'s happening. Naturally,

it is not possible to keep any child engage during every waking hour, so the

challenge is to learn his or her stimming language, help the child to refine it,

while simultaneously working on the ability for self-reliance or self

stimulation in the positive sense of those words. Your son is clearly able to

play by himself at times as well as with others--but at times he needs the

channel of stimming particularly when he is alone.

Chelsey has the same kinds of " ups and downs " during the day and from day to day

as your son. Some of her stimms can be quite destructive (tearing books she

loves, pealing off labels, gouging a table with her fork, etc.) These ways of

communicating are obviously unacceptable to us, so we confront her behavior--and

also try to transform it.

Since we're all on the spectrum somewheres, we all stim. Naturally, most of us

have learned how to share stimming times with some degree of effectiveness,

smooth out the daily rough spots and redirect our energies. I have found with

Chelsey that the last of these skills offers the doorway to transforming the

stimming patterns. If I can " translate " her stim, and help her become aware of

her state of neurological overload (often accompanied by isolation), then we

have a beginning of a process which can moderate the stim--sometimes agonizingly

slowly over a long period of time. In other words, I do my best to enter her

stim, guess at what is going on with her at that moment, check it out with her

in words that I can understand and see if I get confirmation. Increasingly, I

do. Needless to say, observing her stimming patterns also often motivates

refinements in her biomedical treatment and meds.

This is a big subject...and we have just tasted it a little. Careful

observations over a period of several days, as you have done, is a great way to

start.

Jack

pisinaris wrote:

Good question Jack

I have been trying to figure out the patterns of stimming myself for

quite a while.Definitely he can express himself so he can get it

out.When he is kept busy he does not stim(We cant possibly keep him

busy all day),when he plays computer games he is on the chair 2

hours calm,no stimming.When he is bored he stimms a lot.When he is

around people ,kids he likes(being happy)is also stim time,but

generally this is not 100%.Like am he stimms a lot,today he stimmed

in am then we played a game with airplane,sitting on the table

pretending I was the pilot ,his sister the stewardess and him the

passenger,no stim,he played the game fantastically(I asked myself is

this kid autistic?)he pretended he was eating the plastic food he

was offered,then he asked me if he could ride the plane and then he

was correcting us of the location of the plane stairs.

Later we had guests for swimming in our pool,he was not

participating in any of the games the other kids were playing and he

was stimming.Then 6pm he goes gets his doll and started playing with

a kid,no stim,they left he continued playing with his dolls and has

not stimmed untill he slept.Its these ups and downs that worry me if

there is something wrong with his metabolism.

When he is anxious and stressed he gets quiet and breaths funny so

this hypothesis is out.

I think his sound sensitivities could be a part of it.Have you tried

auditory processing therapy for reducing sound sensitivities?

Sorry for the long email

All the best of health

Pisinaris

> Listmates hello from Europe

> My son 5 years old speaks very well,asks questions,seaks company

of

> others,loves affection,wants to play with other kids but his play

> skills and motor skills are very low,however the other children

like

> him and get along with him.He also has a low mussle tone.

> His major problem though is verbal stimming(shouting ahh,ahhh).

>

> We tested plasma fatty acids and amino acids(as per Dr McCandless

> advise) and they are ok.

> We did GFCF for a year-no change on his stimming or any other

> improvements.We still try to keep him away from gluten as much as

> possible.

> We tried Diflucan to resolve the yeast indicators in his urine and

> we did get them cleaned up plus we saw an improvement and then we

> tried the methyl-B12 shots at 1250mcg.We got high stimming and we

> stopped.

>

> I dont know what else to try.If he is not stimming he looks and

acts

> like a normal 5 year old kid.

> He is taking CLO,Calcium and magnesium,Culturelle,probiogold.I

> stopped the vitamins 2 months ago when I gave him Diflucan(they

did

> not seem to help)

>

> Please help

> Pisinaris

>

> Many frequently asked questions and answers can be found at

<http://forums.autism-rxguidebook.com>

>

August 10, 2004

Pisinaris,

PS: Regarding your question about sound sensitivity...Historically that has

been an important, although not primary, factor in our exploration of the the

mystery of stimming (and many other mysteries). This was particularly true in

the early years. Now Chelsey exhibits relatively normal reactions to sounds and

has done so for a few years. We have used the " Listening Program "

(systematically filtered classical music) with her on and off for several years,

but use it rarely now. I think LP can be useful and probably quite helpful for

many kids at certain times in their development. We have not explored more

sophisticated ways to improve her ability in the area of sound sensitivity.