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Stimming

Amanda - posted on 05/02/2009 ( 2 moms have responded )

My daughter (age 2 yrs 4 months) hasn't officially been diagnosed, but it looks like she is on the autism spectrum. The thing that I have the most trouble with is stimming. I just learned the real term for it, but she's shown these behaviors for a while. Late in the evening she starts getting so loud and just starts driving us crazy, and I know it has to have a lot to do with stimming issues. I've been trying to find out more information about it in general, and also what to do to help her when she's needing that sensory input so she doesn't do things that drive us crazy. Any advice?

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Amanda - posted on 05/03/2009

We're working on getting her set up with OT. She does like to spin around in a chair, and likes the swings at the park. Other than that, I guess it's just been kind of hard for me to pinpoint exactly what helps.

Maria - posted on 05/03/2009

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Talk to an occupational therapist to see if they can work with her and find out specifically what she is needing. We used all sorts of things with our daughter, but she wasn't usually verbal with it. I have heard from many people, starting with Jenny McCarthy in her book, to use an Ipod! And it does work! If you feel that stressed out by it, slip in the ear buds and tune it out for a little while!

Some of the sensory activities we used were:

buying Lycra in a blanket sized piece, letting her lay in it while we rocked her back and forth like a hammock.

Having large cushions or pillows to jump in and be "sandwiched" in.

Letting her jump on a trampoline (her favorite)

we used "brushing" and joint compressions...better for an OT to explain that one!

we would spin her around in a desk chair to the ABC song, and then spin her the other way.

Swing sets!! My daughter loved swinging! They actually make an indoor swing...they called it a "Rainy day bar" you can put it in your doorway and attach a real swing to it and it supposed to be super strong.

I hope some of this helps...I don't know what your daughter likes but these are things we did at around the same age. (or course, she still likes some of them!)

Good Luck!