Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

This week I’d like to talk about a somewhat unusual aspect of the spectrum that has been brought to my attention in recent months- T-Rex arms.

Yes- you read that correctly, and no I have not joined the spectrum dinosaur brigade (I don’t think I’ll ever understand the fascination 🙈).

So what on earth are T-Rex arms?🦖

Well, it’s pretty much what it says on the tin. T-Rex arms are when an autist holds their arms in a position reminiscent of the mighty T-Rex- arms shortened and tucked into chest, hands bent forward and curled in like claws.

Ok… but how does this behaviour relate to autism?

This unique posture is commonly observed in autism (and in some overlapping ADHD cases) with many autistic and ADHD content creators poking fun at the behaviour. Since I’ve been made aware of this phenomenon, I keep catching myself holding my hands in this position at random times- most notably when I’m in the middle of a busy task like baking or cleaning.

So why do we do it?

The reasons are quite varied. Some autists say it’s because it feels natural and comforting, some say it’s because they don’t know what to do with their hands. Others, like myself, see it as more of an accessibility issue, where you keep your hands close to your chest ready for action mid-task, or a spatial issue where you have greater control of your hands by clutching them close rather than at your sides.

@clairebowmanofficial

Mr Burns Hands 😭 💁🏻‍♀️ #adhshe #trexarms #adhd #adhdinwomen #audhd #adhdandasd

♬ Funny – Gold-Tiger

But is there a scientific reason?

Here’s where things get interesting. Scientists think that T-Rex arms are a form of stimming, so it’s likely to be a sensory related behaviour. They believe that autists keep their arms close to their chest as a natural coping mechanism to comfort and calm when experiencing sensory overload. In some cases T-Rex arms can be viewed as a sign of impending sensory overload, a form of non-verbal communication that experts advise parents to look out for so that they can anticipate a meltdown and take action as needed.

T-Rex arms have been particularly linked to sleep, with many autists adopting this position when they lay down at night. Experts believe that this helps neurodivergents to relax and sleep better, kind of like how weighted blankets work on the nervous system by applying deep pressure to release calming neurotransmitters. Maybe this explains why I often wake up with numb arms in the morning 🙈😂🦖.

@drjimcostello

Trex hands may mean your system is overloaded #adhd #neurodivergent #fyp #adhdtok

♬ original sound – Jim Costello

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings! 🙂

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife