movement Archives

“Is fidgeting and stimming the same thing?”

Fidgeting is similar to stimming, but they serve different purposes. While stimming tends to function as emotional regulation (a way to manage overwhelming feelings or sensory input), fidgeting more often serves focus regulation and energy discharge. The movements might look the same from the outside, but the internal experience and function can be quite different.

“Why do people fidget when they are hyperactive?”

energy focus movement self-regulation

Fidgeting serves as an involuntary mechanism for self-regulating attention and enhancing alertness, especially during tasks perceived as cognitively demanding (hard to do) or monotonous (i.e. boring and repetitive).

“Does ADHD mean you’re always hyperactive?”

diagnosis energy focus movement speech

One aspect of ADHD is difficulties in the brain's impulse self-regulation systems, which in childhood can manifest as movement that's deemed excessive, but this is neither required for ADHD nor the whole story of what hyperactivity means.

vestibular system

balance movement sensory

The vestibular system is a sensory system located in the inner ear that detects head position and movement, working together with vision and proprioception (body position sense) to maintain balance and spatial orientation.

sensory-seeking

eating hearing movement self-regulation sensory

Sensory-seeking refers to a behavioural pattern or tendency in neurodivergent folks where they actively seek out and engage in sensory experiences or stimuli. People may have a heightened desire for sensory input and actively seek activities or environments that provide intense or stimulating sensations.

dyspraxia

learning movement sensory writing

Developmental Coordination Disorder is a neurological condition that affects motor skills and coordination. People with DCD can have trouble with balancing, or tasks that require fine motor skills like tying shoelaces, holding pens or cutlery.

hyperactivity

energy movement thoughts

Hyperactive Type is one of the ADHD subtypes. Hyperactivity can present in physical and mental symptoms. Hyperactive traits include fidgeting and other sensory-seeking behaviours, interrupting others when they talk or finishing their sentences for them, impulsive actions and thrill-seeking behaviour (with a reduced sense of danger), having many ideas and blurting them out.

Specific Learning Difficulties

language learning movement reading speech writing

Having a learning difficulty means a person has a harder time learning and acquiring skills. Learning difficulties are not related to levels of intelligence, the related conditions are neurological.

stimming

eating focus movement self-care self-regulation sensory sound touch vision

Stimming (self-stimulatory behaviour) tends to be more intense, deliberate, and repetitive. It can include hand flapping, rocking, making repetitive sounds, spinning, examining textures intensely, or listening to the same song on repeat for hours. Stimming is historically associated with autism and serves primarily as emotional and sensory regulation—a way to manage overwhelming feelings, process sensory input, express joy or excitement, or meet a physiological need for specific sensory feedback. Autistic people often describe stimming as a need rather than a choice.