ASD - does this sound like stimming?

[Blossom4538]

Hi all,
There are still question marks over whether our little girl is ASD. She has various struggles.

I'm just wondering if these are stims? I imagine stims such as hand flapping, spinning, staring at lights etc - however my little sometimes does things during meltdowns or busy social situations, which I wonder are they stims?
She has had meltdowns all day today. Sometimes she will repeatedly bang the kitchen door open and closed, same with our baby gate. She also during a tantrum switched our light switch on and off. My H thinks she's just doing this during a meltdown to wind us up?! She does like to wind us up at times and get a reaction.

At my sister's house, which is busy and her behaviours do come out, she will open and close her kitchen bin lid or play with door handle. She's almost 5.

...or is stimming more prevalent when bored and needing additional stimulation?
When I looked up stimming on google a minute ago, the Wikipedia page also said feeling soft fabrics is a common stim. My little one loves soft textures (she poss has sensory issues).
What stims do your little ones have?

[Happygoluckyy]

Id say that's more repetitive behaviour rather than stimming (not 100% sure) when my lg is somewhere she's uncomfortable with she tends to sit at the door or play with the handle i do believe this is because she know's the door is how she can leave. If she can open the door she's off and will run away. (She's 3)

My lg's stimming is spinning (she calls this her dancing) she also has slight hand movements.

Stimming to my knowledge is self simulating behaviour it can be highly noticeable or very slight and could easily be missed.

[lottielou7]

Stimming isn't really exclusively associated with ASD. My child with dyspraxia and sensory processing difficulties stims much more than her older sister who has severe autism.

ASD is diagnosed using the triad of impairments. Although a lot of autie kids do stim, it isn't actually part of the diagnostic process.

[mummytime]

I think everyone stims. I came to this conclusion after working out what my DD does after she was diagnosed. She does this odd bringing her forefingers together, like she is precision aiming.
But everyone tends to do "something" when they are nervous: curl their hair, bite their lip, pace, tap, clear their throat etc. People with ASD just do it more because they tend to be more anxious, and the world makes less sense.

What I would really suggest is you investigate the difference between Meltdowns and Tantrums as they are different and need to be treated differently.
And yes everyone can have a meltdown; just think of the five mat stressful things that could happen to you, and imagine them all happening at once. Eg. The baby vomiting uncontrollably, the 3 year old screaming, a phone call to say DH is in hospital, followed by the car not starting, and then your boss phones to say you are going to be disciplined at work.

[Blossom4538]

Thanks everyone, v helpful. My little one has severe anxiety, selective mutism, possible sensory problems and will be assessed for ASD.

[2flyforwifi2]

My 12yo ds has asd. When he gets nervous/excited/over stinulated he rocks. He also kicks the end of the rug we have over and over and swings the door back and forth. Im not sure if this is classed as stimming but he scrapes his teeth over his bottom and top lips, he often has red marks around his mouth. He also rubs his hands together, he has callouses on his knuckles from rubbing them repeatedly, which get chapped and sore :(