Posted by Akilah Richards on Apr.09, 2009

©iStockphoto.com - Catherine Yeulet

Autistic kids have an extreme situation when it comes to sensation. Their nervous systems filter differently. They perceive some things and ignore others. What they take in is sometimes diminished and sometimes amplified. With this in mind, it makes sense that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can have a widely differing experience at meal time. It really is a different world for people with ASD. There are very real differences in smell and taste processing for those with Autism. Sour and bitter are particular categories that children with ASD tend to perceive less intensely.

Now, we all have our preferences. I have serious affection for all things salty. My husband, though, has quite the sweet tooth. But the sensory issues that come with ASD can make for a far more particular diet than general preference can account for. And that is a problem for loved ones scrambling to find nutritional balance, especially since some kids may or may not get the annoying grumbling belly… so there’s little to inspire them to give in and just eat what they’re offered.

I should qualify that. We all get hungry, but for some kids with ASD, those hunger pangs can be mild, not judged as all that uncomfortable, or simply not properly interpreted as a need to eat. So counting on them to bring an ASD child around to forking that broccoli casserole is just not the best plan. As with many reactions by ASD kids, picky eating is often seen as a misbehavior of sorts. But given the experiential peculiarities of taste for children with Autism, it’s quite possible that rejecting foods is not a matter of rebelling. Whatever they are being offered, to them does not taste the way the person offering assumes it does.

That’s the taste hurdle, anyway. There is another sensory challenge to work around: texture. There could be a category of food sensations that feel unpleasant or even painful. Children with ASD can be hypersensitive to particular sensations. Some can’t stand a feather on their skin, others like tight hugs with vigorous back rubbing. Their mouth is no different. Some foods will feel great, while others are an assault.

But the selective eating mystery doesn’t end there. To discover what ASD children need, it’s important to find out what they don’t need. Another common reality for children with ASD is vulnerability to allergies. And it’s not just identifying specific foods, but also the combination of certain foods. It’s a lot to ask to eat and be calm when your food is toxic. The key can often be information and consistency. Knowing allergies and sensitivities is paramount. ASD kids can naturally eye food with fear and suspicion, and having negative experiences with it is less than helpful. And then it’s really a patience game. Introduce new foods slowly. Statistically, there are studies that show that children with ASD can develop as balanced a diet as any other kid, and as a group are only slightly more selective.

If eating is a non-threatening, pleasant, and satisfying experience, any child will be more apt to partake.

Share

Posted under Autism, Diet: Eating to Heal.