It is a most common problem in an Autistic child.
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We see that an autistic child doesn’t want to eat. They are picky eater, they are very selective about their food items. They mostly eat dry items like:- biscuits, chips, popcorn etc. They mostly avoid juicy food, like fruits, vegetables, etc.
Apart from this, they put anything they get in their mouth, whatever they get in their hand. That doesn’t mean the object is unhygienic or unsafe; they don’t care about that, and it can be anything like biting clothes, slippers, licking walls, etc. They won’t allow you to feed them what you want to. “These problems are called ORAL SWIMMING.
CAUSES
SENSORY ISSUE
OVERSENSITIVITY
The child is not comfortable with the food\'s smell or texture.
UNDERDEVELOPED ORAL MOTOR MUSCULATURE
FEAR OF UNFAMILIAR FOOD
These children get afraid of some foods that they don’t want to eat.
TREATMENT
EXERCISE
Jaw Compression and gum pressure are the most important exercises for this problem.
TEXTURES COMFORTABLITY
Try to make your child comfortable with the textures of the food that you want to feed them. At first, you can try it by wearing gloves, dip one finger in honey, and try to put it on their mouth (rubbing it on teeth). Then you can take any juicy fruit, smash it and then with same process try to comfort the with it. You can same with some vegetables also like tomato, cucumber, etc.
Try to change the fruit and vegetables after a week so that they don’t get tired of one fruit or vegetable.
PLAY WITH FOOD
You can start playing with the food while feeding the child so that they can get comfortable or familiar with that food item.
NOTE
For betterment or more clarification, you can discuss or consult with the therapist of your child.
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