Help! My child chews on everything: Oral seeking behavior within Autistic children
Do you often find your autistic child with something in their mouth, whether it be a toy, their sleeve, or even pocketed food and then ask yourself why? Here’s the thing — these are not simple quirks or strange habits, but rather your child is experiencing a sensory need and is attempting to meet that need by chewing and seeking out other oral stimuli. Why? Simply put, many children on the spectrum struggle with oral hyposensitivity. A study on sensory processing disorders described oral hyposensitivity as “seeking out oral stimulation 1) to register, e.g. seeking out strong tasting foods so that taste can be registered such as spicy foods, or 2) to modulate, e.g. chewing and sucking on pens/pencils or other objects” (Cheng & Boggett-Carsjens, 2005).
Oral Hyposensitivity: Seeking out oral stimulation 1) to register, e.g. seeking out strong tasting foods so that taste can be registered such as spicy foods, or 2) to modulate, e.g. chewing and sucking on pens/pencils or other objects”(Cheng & Boggett-Carsjens, 2005).
Some parents are disturbed by this behavior and seek out ways to put an end to it; however, I would argue that stopping this behavior could potentially be harmful to your child as it prevents him/her to self-regulate their sensory system. As Cheng & Boggett-Carsjens put it, “for the hyposensitive child, the goal is to increase sensory input” (2005). In other words, it is beneficial and even therapeutic for your child to increase oral sensory input by essentially ‘mouthing’ things.
“For the hyposensitive child, the goal is to increase sensory input” (Cheng & Boggett-Carsjens, 2005).
Now as a mother to a child with ASD, I fully understand the cons to simply allowing my child to chew through everything. Often there can be damaged clothing, furniture, toys or worse, harm to your child. This can also be complicated by the fact that some autistic children may further struggle with PICA, defined by the Mayo Clinic as “Craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value, such as ice, clay, soil, or paper” (Pruthi, 2018). My daughter is a hyposensitive oral seeker with PICA, and although it may seem difficult to manage there are a few great gadgets that have helped me redirect harmful chewing or spitting patterns to safer alternatives. Here are just a few recommendations, which I have categorized by type/texture of sensory input.
For the child who loves to chew on…
- Fabric, clothing, sleeves I recommend Fun and Function’s Bite Bands (paid link). These are absolutely perfect for the kiddos who love to chew on their t-shirt collars. These bands can be worn around the neck like a necklace and are a colorful yet discrete way of allowing your child the oral input they need without having to constantly replace their wardrobe.
2. Hard or crunchy surfaces like wooden cribs, rocks, very small toys/choking hazards, try to find an edible replacement that is similar in texture such as crushed ice, pretzel rods, or kettle popped potato chips (as they tend to have a harder crunch). If your child is particularly attracted to chewing on wood, consider using wooden teethers such as Hombae Wooden Teether Rings (paid link).
3. Soft rubbery or silicone textures, replace with silicone toys of various shapes and sizes and chewelry. If you are not familiar with chewelry, these are products specifically designed for oral seeking individuals and often come in disguise as necklaces, bracelets, and chew tubes. The image pictured below is a tough silicone meant to withstand chewing and has the added bumpy texture for a more exciting oral sensory experience. This particular item is called Sensory Chew Necklace by Gafly Therapeutics (paid link).
4. Variety of bumpy textures and temperatures. If all else fails present your child with a variety of textures, shapes, and sizes and see if they show interest. I like to just grab a bunch of different textured silicone balls and let my daughter explore. The one she has enjoyed the most is Infantino’s Textured Infant Ball Set (paid link). Feel free to get creative and think outside the box; consider playing around with temperature! If your child will not try a chew tube but likes cold things, then try sticking the chew tube in the refrigerator until it is cold to the touch and give it to them again. Sometimes a simple change in temperature is all it takes.
So that’s it, get creative and let your child lead you!
Note: As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
References:
Cheng, M., & Boggett-Carsjens, J. (2005). Consider sensory processing disorders in the explosive child: case report and review. The Canadian child and adolescent psychiatry review = La revue canadienne de psychiatrie de l’enfant et de l’adolescent, 14(2), 44–48.
Pruthi, R. K. (2018, March 09). Craving and chewing ice: A sign of anemia? Retrieved August 21, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/expert-answers/chewing-ice/faq-20057982?utm_source=Google
