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Posted by: Angie on 2006-08-31, 11:14:30
When an autistic child is chewing on his clothes, it's a sensory issue, and a stimming issue. He is doing it either because he is a sensory-seeking child, orally, and he needs to have something in his mouth to process things, and/ or he's using it as a method of self-calming, known as stimming. Don't force him to stop chewing, but yes, he needs to stop chewing on his clothes. Find something else that he will accept to chew on, like airline tubing from an aquarium, or a stuffed animal. He's more likely to chew on a stuffed animal that is like the material of his clothes. Gradually, you might be able to get him to stop completely, but you need to investigate ways of helping him deal with his sensory issues first, or he'll just find another outlet that might be even worse socially then chewing on his clothes. Ask his therapist, if he has one, or get a copy of the books THE OUT OF SYNC CHILD and THE OUT OF SYNC CHILD HAS FUN. They explain sensory issues, why they do what they do,and the second book lists ways of helping them with this. Contact me with his age, and I can give you some examples that are in the books. You need to know that it is rare that a child with autism does something without there being a reason behind it, and you first have to learn the reasons, to help you understand them and try to find ways of helping them. |
