Chin Chin Cherooo

It's not usual for people on the spectrum to "stim" - an action that self stimulates the nervous system.  Actually most people stim, it's just that primarily people not on the spectrum partake in more socially acceptable stimming - sitting and tapping or jiggling a foot, drumming fingers on a table, jingling change in a pocket.  The stims of people on the spectrum are different from what most of us are used to.  ASD stimming may be spinning, hand flapping, toe walking.  Or even more exotic things. The R.A. engages in the three that I just mentioned and also something we have named "chinning."  Whenever he is overly something - angry, frustrated, excited, thrilled - he "chins."  Basically he digs his chin into whatever is around, his own hand, someone else's hand, arm, leg, whatever is available.  Let me tell you, that kid's chin is tough.  I've had bruises on my arms or legs from chinning episodes.

We don't know why the R.A. does it.  We only know it occurs at that "overly" moment.  Lately he seems to be doing it a lot. So I guess he's been experiencing lots of emotions.  Of course it all hearkens back to the home planet.  It must be something that they do at those "overly" moments.  When they are happy it must be an alien equivalent of a high five.  When unhappy it must be like a mini tantrum.  Maybe instead of boxing they have two aliens in a ring who chin each other?  Or perhaps it is more of a display sport where aliens chin themselves in front of a panel of judges and they received marks for form, technique, and creativity.

"Q-Quork 7 is back competing after recovering from a horrific chin accident that sidelined him for most of last season.  The question is, does he still have it?"

"39:X8 is the rookie but she is truly a fresh face in the world of chinning today.  Seemingly single-handedly she has generated a renewed interest in the sport, creating the innovative chin squeeze and release and chin move."

Typically part of ASD treatment is to channel the unusual stimming into something more socially acceptable and in the R.A.'s case something that doesn't leave bruises.  One member of his team (who does not interact with R.A. that often) gave us hard rubber balls to use.  The idea was that whenever R.A. chinned we were to give him the ball and he would chin that.  Not to be a "Debbie Downer" but  I knew immediately that the balls would not work.  We've been working with R.A. on playing catch and of course using different kinds of balls as a way to combat that generalization thingee of his.  Well, every time the R.A. chins and we hand him one of those balls he stops briefly, tosses the ball and then goes right back to chinning.  I guess in a way it does detract him but only for a few seconds.  The good news is that he does have pretty good generalization with balls.  Hey, we find our blessings where we can.