Silent clapping, often referred to as "jazz hands", is becoming popular as a way to make events more neurodivergent friendly. A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that both neurodivergent and neurotypical people are generally positive towards the practice, although opinions vary widely. The study also highlights differing language preferences, with many participants indicating that both identity‑first and person‑first terms are acceptable.
Silent clapping is increasingly used at conferences and meetings, replacing traditional applause to create a calmer sound environment and reduce sensory strain for autistic people and others who may be sensitive to sound.
"It is encouraging that many are positive towards initiatives designed to support inclusion," says Professor Sven Bölte , head of Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND) . "At the same time, silent clapping is an example of a measure that is spreading quickly even though we do not yet know whether it truly benefits the group it is intended to support."
To explore this further, the researchers conducted an international online survey. The findings have been published in the Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology.
How silent clapping is experienced
To understand how silent clapping is experienced, the researchers surveyed 626 participants from 24 countries, of whom 389 identified as neurodivergent and 237 as neurotypical. Autism and ADHD were the most common diagnoses among neurodivergent respondents.
Participants rated both silent and traditional applause and described their experiences in open‑ended comments. Many participants described silent clapping as a calmer and more comfortable way to express appreciation. At the same time, several found silent applause less rewarding, as loud clapping can provide energy and positive feedback. One participant commented:
"Clapping is predictable and therefore not as distressing as other loud noises. It's a social expectation that I actively enjoy engaging in because I know I'm doing the right thing socially. It has a generally predictable volume and length. I love very enthusiastic applause where you are allowed to fully express joy and appreciation outwardly and loudly (whooping, cheering, etc). I often have to minimise or police my physical outward expressions of joy to fit in. Loud applause is also a way to let out any tics, and expend physical movement besides fidgeting."
Qualitative responses also revealed that some participants clap repetitively as a form of stimming and therefore rely on the physical act of clapping to regulate their energy. Others described silent clapping as visually overwhelming, or difficult to perceive for people with visual impairments.
On average, autistic participants were positive towards silent clapping, and more so than other groups. The researchers suggest this may relate to auditory sensitivity and a stronger connection to the neurodiversity perspective. However, experiences varied greatly even within the autistic group.
Language preferences around autism
The study also explored participants' language preferences. Among neurodivergent respondents:
- 38.6% preferred identity‑first language ("autistic person"),
- 19.8% preferred person‑first language ("person with autism"),
- 41.6% had no clear preference.
"This is an issue that resonates with many people. On social media, strong opinions are often expressed in favour of one term or the other, while many autistic individuals I meet do not feel strongly about the distinction. This shows that language preferences vary widely, and the same applies to silent clapping: across autistic, ADHD and neurotypical participants we saw a broad range of views, indicating that no single approach works for everyone. Accessibility measures should therefore be shaped case by case and in dialogue with those they are intended to support, rather than introduced routinely in every situation," says Sven Bölte.
The study received no external research funding and was conducted in collaboration between Karolinska Institutet, La Trobe University in Australia, and Region Stockholm.
Publication
"Diversity-Friendly Initiatives: Substance or Show? The Case of Silent Clapping", Black MH, Bölte S. Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, online 18 december 2025. doi: 10.2478/sjcapp-2025-0014.
