Chinning in autism is the repetitive, self stimulatory behavior where a person with autism presses or rubs their chin against objects, surfaces or people for emotional comfort and sensory regulation.
Chinning in autism is often used by children with autism to help manage anxiety, stress or sensory overload.
The behavior of chinning in autism helps to provide calming proprioceptive input.
When a child or someone with autism is chinning, they may push their chin into some soft furniture, toys or cushions.
Other common things a child or someone with autism may do with chinning is to bore their chin into someone's face, shoulder or arm for comfort.
The purpose of chinning in autism is to act as a coping mechanism, and provide deep pressure also known as proprioceptive or tactile stimulation, which is similar to that of a weighted blanket, effect, which helps calm a person with autism during overwhelming moments or transitions.
Chinning in autism is often also referred to as stimming, self stimulatory behavior or sensory seeking behavior and it might also be described as jaw pressing or even pressure seeking.
While chinning is harmless, it might require intervention, if the chinning in autism causes any physical discomfort, like jaw or tooth damage, or if the chinning happens during high stress situations or becomes harmful and intense.
Support for chinning in autism also focuses on providing safe alternatives and identifying triggers of the chinning in autism.
Safe alternatives to chinning in autism are using chewy toys, providing calming heavy pressure to other body parts or even sensory breaks.
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy or ABA therapy can also help manage the chinning in autism.