Does your ASD teen rock themselves?

[bubblebath62636]

Hi there I'm just after some general advice. DD is almost 13 with HFA, fine as a young child as long as structure and routine were spot on.

As she's got older I've noticed she likes to spend some time in her room alone relaxing watching Youtube. The other day I walked in and she was rocking herself back and forth listening to music. She says she likes to do it and enjoys it. She only has screens for a few hours a day after school in order to keep some balance although we're more relaxed on the weekend.

I'm just wondering if anyone else's teen does similar? She only seems to do it alone in her room I'm just wondering if i should leave her to it?

I'd leave her to it if it doesn't take over her life or stop her doing other things. It probably helps her cope. My DD paces up and down.

Leave her be, it's a sensory thing, it's comforting.

Sorry OP, just realised you may not be up to speed with Sensory Processing,
www.sensoryintegration.org.uk/What-is-SI

There's a very interesting study on rocking from 2019 www.sensoryintegration.org.uk/News/7369531#:~:text=A%20new%20study(1)%20shows,and%20can%20influence%20brain%20oscillations.

Maybe think about getting her a rocking chair or a hammock or swing chair, just make sure it rocks the same way she likes to rock herself.
Some outdoor ones can also be used indoors. They are fashionable at the moment.

Thank you all, she was only diagnosed a few years ago so I'm still learning! Plus puberty has brought it's challenges.

She seems to be triggered by music, I do try and stop her when she's eating if she starts to rock (mainly for the risk of choking).

I will leave her to it, if it brings her comfort then that can only be a good thing.

It’s probably very regulating for her. The rocking activates the vestibular sensory system which gives us information about our body’s movement and balance it also happens to be right next to the auditory system and if you activate one it tends to activate the other which is why you may see it more when she’s listening to music.

My son has ASD he sits for hours on the garden swing just swing and listening to music after school. Definitely let her get on with it. I’m thinking of getting a rocking chair for da for when it’s too cold to be out on the swing