What Is Perseveration and Autism?

Picevoration is commonly associated with autism, even being one of the criteria that the DSM uses to diagnose autism spectrum disorder. Prosevoration can actually look a lot like stimming to the untrained eye as it can involve repetitive movements like rocking back and forth,. or repetitive speech like echolalia. It also serves some of the same functions to the individual as stimming does. However, perseveration is really different from stimming because Perseveration is an involuntary coping mechanism that exacerbates a problem or a feeling.