–Triveni Goswami Vernal
(Registered Special Educator A64010)

A stim refers to self-stimulatory behaviour that an individual on the Autism spectrum engages in, to regulate their sensory experiences. Proprioception refers to the body’s ability to sense movement, force and body position.

Proprioception refers to the “the ability which allows us to control limbs without directly looking at them” (https://www.experia-usa.com/blog/understanding-different-types-stimming/).  How a body interacts and moves in relation to other parts of the body, or in relation to other individuals or in the space around it, is what proprioception refers to. Proprioceptive inputs are received by the body through the sensory receptors located in the muscles, joints and skin.  It includes activities such as swimming, jumping, deep pressure massage, bouncing etc.

HYPERSENSITIVITY TO PROPRIOCEPTIVE INPUT:
Hypersensitivity to Proprioceptive input involves being over-responsive to the proprioceptive inputs/stimulation, thereby engaging in behaviour or stims to avoid it. For example, avoiding movement activities, avoid wearing body hugging or tight clothing, avoiding the sense of touch.

HYPOSENSITIVITY TO PROPRIOCEPTIVE INPUT:
Hyposensitivity to Proprioceptive input involves being under-responsive to proprioception, and thus engage in behaviour/stims to actively seek the proprioceptive stimuli.  For example, love to engage in activities that require movements, jumping, stomping, bouncing; seeks deep pressure massage, loves being hugged tightly, purposefully bump into people or things, constantly engage in motion etc.

                                    Source: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/proprioception-inputs
In my next blog, I will provide examples of activities that can be done for those who seek or avoid Proprioceptive inputs.

Resources:
https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/proprioception-inputs
https://connectability.ca/2020/07/14/proprioceptive-sense/
https://www.occupationaltherapy.com.au/proprioception/#:~:text=Proprioception%20is%20the%20sense%20that%20lets%20us%20know%20where%20our,our%20skin%2C%20muscles%20and%20joints.
https://www.autismtogether.co.uk/proprioception-and-autism-2/
https://sensory-processing.middletownautism.com/sensory-strategies/strategies-according-to-sense/proprioceptive/#:~:text=The%20proprioceptive%20system%20is%20located,controlling%20responses%20to%20sensory%20stimuli.

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Author Triveni Goswami Vernal

Triveni Goswami Vernal is an Autism advocate, registered Special Educator (CRR A64010) and an Independent Researcher. Her areas of interest include Autism, Disability Rights, Gender, Art and Northeast studies. She is a mum to an 12 year old on the Autism Spectrum.

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Artwork-“Monsoon”, Artist- Kabir Vernal
Acrylic Painting on Ivory Paper