What Is Stereotypical Behavior In Children And How Does It Manifest Itself?
Stereotypical behavior, or sensitivity, refers to a person’s seemingly strange behavior. Sensoryism manifests itself, for example, in the reflection of the body, the movement of fingers in front of the eyes, jumping, rotation, or the endless repetition of words. During repetitive movements, the child seems to retreat into his or her own world.
Stereotypical behavior of children
Sensoryism occurs in almost all of Kanner’s autistic and blind children from birth, among other things, but it can also be a nuisance for a perfectly healthy and normally developing child.
Stereotypic behavior usually begins at the age of 6-12 months and decreases as the child grows. Stereotypes are prolonged episodes of repetitive movement that occur more in boys than in girls. The movement may be over in a few seconds or continue for up to hours, and so-called seizures may occur several times during the day.
The exact cause of stereotypical behavior is not known, but it is considered an innate way for humans and animals to relieve body stress, with the constant repetition of movement causing the brain to secrete well-being endorphins. Stereotypic behavior typically occurs when a child is in an over- or under-aroused state or experiences very strong emotional states.
Symptoms of stereotypical behavior
As we have already mentioned, stereotypical behavior means the constant repetition of movements, expressions, or words. Movements can include, for example, bouncing the body, crossing the legs, transferring weight from one leg to another, chewing nails, or spinning hair. Often the movement seems very strange to strangers.
Stereotypic movements vary with each child. Complex movements are rare and occur in only about 3-4% of children.
Stereotypic behavior is associated with under- and over-excited space in children. For example, stress, enthusiasm, fatigue, tension, and boredom can trigger movement. Some children’s attention can be drawn elsewhere, allowing the child to stop moving. In some cases, the child is not able to control the situation at all.
Treatment of stereotypical behavior
Stereotypic behavior usually begins when a child is 6 to 12 months old, and although it usually alleviates with age, the behavior can continue until young adulthood.
Although the root cause of sensitism is unknown, certain factors have been linked to this behavior. Certain drugs are also known to cause stereotypical use, and the behavior ceases when the use of the drug is stopped.
Children with mild stereotypical behavior are not usually prescribed medications because their harms may outweigh the benefits. However, severe cases can be treated with behavioral therapy and certain medications. If sensoryism affects a child’s school success, friendships, and daily life, it is a good idea to discuss treatment options with your doctor.
