This kind of sensory stimulation may be similar to other autism-related behaviors such as spinning or looking at lights. The individual enjoys the feeling of eating certain non-food items. But three fairly common issues tend to contribute to pica in those with autism. When parents come to me, they usually want to know why their child is eating strange things. So I greatly appreciate both your awareness of your daughter’s pica and your desire for advice. Some feel so embarrassed by the behavior that they don’t even ask for help. Like you, many parents of children with autism are uncertain what to do. The items I most commonly hear about are paper, soap, pebbles, thread and bits of clothing. This tendency is relatively common in children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities. For the uninitiated, pica (pronounced PY-kah) is an appetite for non-food items. Lynn has co-authored several AS-ATN/AIR-P* tool kits, including an upcoming family guide on pica.Īs a nurse practitioner in a developmental pediatrics program, I see lots of children and teens with pica. The University of Rochester is one of 17 Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network (AS-ATN) centers. Guest post by pediatric nurse practitioner Lynn Cole, associate director of clinical services at the University of Rochester’s Division of Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
0 kommentar(er)
