<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0qx5Jh_0w2jE3S500" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0qx5Jh_0w2jE3S500" width="732" height="549" ><p>Vocal stimming involves making repetitive sounds to self-regulate and achieve a sense of comfort, focus, or calm. Many people with ADHD may vocal stim as a self-soothing mechanism.</p><p>“Stimming” describes repetitive self-stimulation behaviors that help regulate emotions and aim to restore a sense of calm and focus. These behaviors can range from physical movements — pacing and fidgeting — to sensory engagement — like listening to a song on repeat or chewing on a pen cap.</p><p>Vocal stimming refers explicitly to making repetitive vocalizations or sounds. You may repeat certain words or phrases, sing the same song over and over again, or persistently clear your throat, whistle, or hum.</p><p>While often associated with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), stimming isn’t limited to any specific diagnosis.</p><p>In fact, most people have stimmed at least once (hair twirling, foot tapping, humming) in a moment of high stress, needed focus, or boredom.</p><h2>Is vocal stimming a formal symptom of ADHD?</h2><p>Vocal stimming isn’t a formal symptom of ADHD or a diagnostic criterion listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR).</p><p>Stimming may closely resemble repetitive behaviors and fidgeting, which are common manifestations of the hyperactive ADHD subtype — but they aren’t the same.</p><p>Repetitive behaviors associated with hyperactivity in ADHD are often impulsive in nature and relate to needing an outlet for excess physical and mental energy. </p><p>Stimming behaviors, on the other hand, typically arise as self-soothing mechanisms that aim to calm and comfort oneself. For example, stimming may occur when you need to relieve stress or neutralize overwhelming stimuli.</p><p>As with hyperactivity, vocal stimming may also happen in some people with ADHD. Stimming — of any kind — is a common shared experience for many people with the condition.</p><h2>Examples of vocal stimming in ADHD</h2><p>Vocal stimming in ADHD can manifest differently in children and adults and may depend on environmental and developmental factors.</p><p>Children, for example, may be more likely than adults to make cooing or babbling noises when they’re still developing language skills.</p><p>Adults may use more complex forms of vocal stimming. They may also be more aware of their stimming behaviors in a social context, engaging in subtle vocal stims that might not be as noticeable to others.</p><p>Examples of possible vocal stims in children include persistent or repetitive:</p><ul><li>babbling or cooing</li><li>growling</li><li>making “silly” sounds</li><li>words or phrases used by caregivers</li><li>words that may not make sense</li><li>chanting or singing parts of nursery rhymes or songs</li><li>words in a sing-song tone</li><li>animal sounds or sounds of other objects from learning or play, like cars</li><li>blowing “raspberries” with their lips</li></ul><p>Examples of possible vocal stims in adults include:</p><ul><li>humming quietly</li><li>throat clearing or coughing</li><li>repeating words or phrases</li><li>whistling</li><li>tongue clicking</li><li>singing</li></ul><p>Overall, vocal stimming behaviors can be the same for adults and children. Still, how overtly they present and their complexity can depend on factors like developmental stage, social context, and environment.</p><h2>Why do people with ADHD stim?</h2><p>Experts don’t fully understand the underlying causes of stimming in ADHD, but these repetitive behaviors may be more common due to changes in the brain’s function and structure.</p><p>Neurological differences in ADHD may contribute to challenges with emotional regulation, energy management, and impulsivity. Because stimming appears to be a way of self-regulating thoughts and feelings, people with ADHD may stim more often than neurotypical folks.</p><p>Why and when you stim is unique to you and your individual ADHD experience. For example, you might stim to:</p><ul><li>improve your focus</li><li>relieve boredom</li><li>neutralize anxiety or stress</li><li>express excessive excitement</li><li>distract from overwhelming sensory stimuli (loud noises or bright lights)</li></ul><p>How you stim is also individual. You may engage mainly in vocal stimming because it’s always accessible, for instance. Or vocal stims might replace other types of stimming when some behaviors aren’t possible. For example, if you can’t get up to pace, you may switch to clearing your throat or humming. </p><h2>Understanding ADHD stimming through ASD stimming</h2><p>Researchers often look at stimming under the scope of ASD, which may help them improve their understanding of how the behavior applies to ADHD. </p><p>While ASD and ADHD are two different experiences, stimming is a part of the formal diagnostic criteria for autism in the DSM-5-TR. Stimming is also an area of extensive research in ASD.</p><p>An interview-based </p><p>found that stimming behaviors among autistic people provide self-comfort or calm in circumstances where environmental stimuli or “noisy” thoughts become overwhelming.</p><p>Older research from 2015 also found that almost 72% of people who identified as autistic or had received a formal diagnosis used stimming to relieve anxiety. More than 68% of 100 surveyed people said they stimmed to calm down, and around 57% said they engaged in stimming when overstimulated.</p><p>This could also be the case for people with ADHD who stim.</p><p>ASD and ADHD are both neurodevelopmental conditions that </p><p>of co-occurrence.</p><h2>Does vocal stimming in ADHD need treatment?</h2><p>Vocal stimming is considered a self-soothing tactic and not a direct cause of distress in ADHD. While it may be disruptive to others, it’s typically a beneficial coping strategy and doesn’t require treatment.</p><p>Excessive vocal stimming </p><p>the vocal cords, throat, or mouth. If you experience hoarseness, a sore throat, dry mouth, or uncontrollable coughing, a doctor may assess if vocal stimming is the cause and whether they should intervene.</p><p>If vocal stimming interferes with everyday life or causes medical concerns, ADHD treatment may help. The need for vocal stimming may decrease with ADHD management, making it less frequent or intense.</p><h2>Takeaway</h2><p>Vocal stimming describes making sounds or vocalizations as a way of providing comfort, calm, and self-regulation. While anyone can stim, people with ADHD may stim more often due to challenges with emotional regulation, impulsivity, focus, and hyperactivity.</p><p>Vocal stimming doesn’t usually require treatment, but if it’s disrupting your everyday life or causing medical complications, working with a mental health professional to manage ADHD symptoms may help reduce stimming’s frequency.</p></div></body>

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Vocal Stimming in ADHD: Examples, Causes, and Management

Vocal stimming involves making repetitive sounds to self-regulate and achieve a sense of comfort, focus, or calm. Many people with ADHD may vocal stim as a self-soothing mechanism. “Stimming” describes repetitive self-stimulation behaviors that help regulate emotions and aim to restore a sense of calm and focus. These behaviors can...

Vocal Stimming in ADHD: Examples, Causes, and Management

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