Published by: Autism Parenting Magazine
Written by: Claire Delano

If you’re a parent, you’ve probably seen your child put something in his/her mouth that isn’t food. During the mouthing stage before the age of two, it’s normal for curious babies to try and chew on just about everything. But when children try to actually eat non-food items past this stage of development, they may have an eating disorder known as pica (pronounced “pie-kuh”).

Pica is a dangerous, potentially life-threatening behavior for anyone. Depending on what objects are ingested, young children may face nutritional deficiencies, choking, poisoning, parasites, blood infections, intestinal blockages or perforations, etc. These problems can require hospital visits, surgery, and may even cause death.

In this article, we’ll explore what exactly pica is, what may cause it, and how you can help your child with autism if it’s something he/she struggles with. Click here to read the rest of the story.

Published by: Autism Parenting Magazine
Written by: Yolande Loftus

When searching for information about your autistic child’s sensory challenges you may find many articles about hypersensitivity. But what about hyposensitivity, and the accompanying sensory seeking behavior of a child who finds the world an underwhelming place?

As research discovers more about the autistic brain, we can’t help but marvel at some of the skills and strengths that underlie the neurodivergent mind. One the other hand, research is also delving deeper into just how the deficits and symptoms of autism may lead to difficulties experienced in everyday life.

For those on the spectrum, sensory difficulties may be some of the most challenging symptoms to manage. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM–5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input is one of the ways in which restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior may manifest.

Another core impairment of autism is communication. When you consider the reality of an autistic child’s life, with sensory difficulties and deficits in communication, it may be deduced that he/she might experience sensory challenges and lack the necessary communication skills to express such discomfort (for example a lack of tactile stimuli) with parents or caregivers. Click here to read the rest story.