What is a common behavior exhibited by students who are visually impaired as a self-soothing mechanism?

Hand flapping is a common behavior exhibited by students who are visually impaired as a self-soothing mechanism. This behavior can serve several purposes, including providing sensory feedback and helping to regulate emotions in situations of stress or anxiety. For some students, repetitive movements like hand flapping can be comforting and can help them focus or calm down, especially in environments that may be overwhelming or distracting. In this context, it acts as a coping strategy, allowing them to manage their feelings and navigate their surroundings more effectively.

While the other options may also be activities that students engage in, they do not typically serve the same purpose of self-soothing in the same way. Watching television, for instance, may provide entertainment and distraction but does not directly address emotional regulation. Reading braille is an important skill for accessing information but is not considered a self-soothing behavior. Drawing pictures can be creative and expressive; however, it does not have the same repetitive, calming nature that hand flapping does for these students.