What Are Some Examples Of Repetitive Motion/Behaviors Characteristic Of Someone With Autism?

Oct. 23, 2008 -- Question: What are some examples of repetitive motion/behaviors characteristic of someone with autism?

Answer: Repetitive behaviors can include hand-flapping, toe-walking, doing what many parents call a happy dance. Can also be aimlessly roaming around the room in constant motion without any actual obvious function to their movements. Can be, jumping in place, clapping.

There are a wide-variety of repetitive behaviors. Often, as an individual gets older, they learn that such behaviors make them stand out in society and they learn to miniaturize those behaviors. Either by using finger movements instead of whole arm movements, learning not to do happy dances in public, and learning cognitively how to interact when they have the urge to do these, what we call stereotypic behaviors.