Good ol’ dirt eating | Autism PDD

Hey Holly, what you are describing is called pica, it's when a person eats non-edible items, (dirt, paint ect) and although i don't have any experience with it i have read that it occurs in up to 25% of autistic people. I would talk to your ped and see if he/she can refer you to a behavioral specialist and perhaps they can help you come up with a plan to combat this. Just know that it is not uncommon so i'm sure someone will beable to help you.

I have a paper/stick eater.

Her OT told me that when I saw her doing this to offer her something that was edible or at least not harmful.

We have learned our favorites are crushed pellet ice, lettuce, crackers. You have to find what they like and see what works for you. Our OT said redirection and at first I didn't think it would work but eventually it does.

Good Luck,

Here are some things I found online:

Pica: 30% of children with autism have moderate to severe pica. Pica refers to eating non-food items such as paint, sand, dirt, paper, etc. Pica can expose the child to heavy metal poisoning, especially if there is lead in the paint or in the soil.

Teachers at May Institute’s school for children with autism and other developmental disabilities in Arlington, Mass., developed and implemented a successful intervention for a 5-year-old boy with autism who had a history of pica behavior. Each time the boy displayed pica behavior, a teacher interrupted the behavior and prompted him to throw the object away. This intervention was repeated ten times following each pica incident. Described as "contingent practice," this intervention was effective in reducing, and essentially eliminating pica in this case.

Hope this helps.....take care,

Karrie

Here is an interesting link on the subject ... hope it helps!

http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/pica.html

Kellie
do't have that problem with dirt, but carlo likes to eat foam balls and he likes to lick things like dirty water on the porch or the ground, paper etc. would this be considered pica? grose if u ask me. i too am dicusses this with our ot. take care.mom2carlomy emmy sucks fingers . when told to remove them she wipes them on her left cheek

Nelle, it could be. In Jeffrey's case it was like a phase he went thru. Now his next phase was touching everybody's faces. Which would get him in trouble at school because obviously alot of people don't like that. He will still do that occassionally but it is no way as severe as it used to be.

Tammy

P.S. Nelle you do your homework I gave you? Don't want to get you an f

tabitha38517.3115740741Yes, the water licking is gross but until you mentioned it I hadn't noticed. But DD does it to. I watched just today licking the window sill

Why is it that they eat dirt.....

.......and what do I do to stop him from eating it?

To my dismay, my son's diet consisted of mostly dirt on Saturday (evidenced by the dirty diapers --no pun intended-- he made for me all day on Sunday).

Any thoughts?

Awha!!! Well at least I know to ask the OT about it tomorrow when I see her. hi all my 3 year old does all that and more, belive me you dont want to know what she does with dirty nappies

He has also been know to getting in licking spells with people being his favorite.

Nelle