Is chewing on things a sign of autism?
Yes. And no. Yes, it’s true that many autistic children chew on non-food items. However, like most human behavior, autistic people are not the only ones who do so.
If your child chews on shirt collars, pencil erasers, and everything in between, I’m with you.
I have two children who used to chew on everything and it used to drive me nuts. That is, until I learned about the sensory needs behind chewing and other forms of oral stimulation.
So, today, let’s discuss the reasons behind oral sensory seeking, chewing behavior, and its connection to autism. Additionally, we’ll discuss stimming or self-stimulatory behavior.
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Chewing is Stimming
Chewing on things is one type of many stimming behaviors that we see in autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).
These types of behaviors provide sensory stimulation to the nervous system of the person engaged in the behavior.
So, when young children chew on non-edible objects such as clothing and small toys, they’re seeking oral sensory input.
While we associate repetitive movements such as stimming behaviors with Autism, ADHD, and SPD, all human beings stim at times.
Why? Because every person has their own unique sensory issues and needs.
Ever find yourself in the kitchen inhaling chips? Yep. That crunchy sensation is calming oral sensory input.
Everybody Stims
If you’re not familiar with the term STIMMING, the best way to think about it is this.
Stimming is repetitive behaviors that one uses in an effort to self-regulate to meet the needs of the environment.
Common human self-stimulating behaviors that you’ve likely experienced include:
- Pacing back and forth when nervous
- Tapping one’s knee up and down
- Rocking back in forth in a rocking chair
- Twirling hair
- Grinding teeth
- Chewing the inside of your lip
- Swaying back and forth without a baby in one’s arms
Again, every one of these behaviors is a type of stim that helps with self-regulation.
Stimming and Self-Regulation
You may be wondering about this whole concept of self-regulation.
Self-regulation refers to one’s response to input from the outside world and we all do it.
Let’s look at an example.
When you’re tired and have work to do, you may self-regulate by drinking a cup of coffee to increase alertness.
On the other hand, you may choose to self-regulate by going to bed early so you can wake up and complete your work later.
In the end, the term self-regulation doesn’t necessarily mean CALM.
The goal of healthy self-regulation is to adjust your energy and emotional states to meet the needs of your current situation.
Regardless of special needs, developmental delays, or medical issues, it’s essential that we support everyone in developing healthy self-regulation strategies.
A great way to consider this is through a common example that many autistic children experience every single day.
Stress and Sensory Overload and Autism
When a child is in an overwhelming situation, they will respond to the overwhelm and stress in some way.
Depending upon that child’s developmental stage, they may respond to stressful situations behaviorally.
For example, here are a couple of ways a child may respond to a loud, bright, crowded classroom environment.
- crying
- screaming
- hiding
- running away
- chewing on their shirt
- biting their nails
- chewing on pencils
- rocking back and forth
- or asking to “Go to the bathroom”
- dissociating (not-responding to adults)
Each of these options (including the oral behaviors) is a different way that a child may respond to adjust to their current situation.
Sensory Overwhelm is NOT Bad Behavior
These are most often NOT conscious decisions to misbehave.
Unfortunately, many adults have been conditioned to believe that these are signs of problem behavior. This lens hurts children who need help.
When overwhelmed and stressed, young and even older children use the tools they have to communicate their needs.
So whether a child is autistic, has ADHD, or has sensory processing challenges doesn’t really matter.
The goal is to support them with the tools they need to thrive and grow.
Chewing and Proprioception
When autistic children and adults chew non-edible objects, they’re doing so to meet an oral sensory need.
Chewing provides a specific type of sensory input called proprioceptive input. Proprioception is related to:
- deep pressure
- heavy work
- impact on the joints
When the brain and body receive proprioceptive sensory information, the brain releases calming neurochemicals like serotonin.
Chewing is Big Business
This is why the chewing gum industry made more than $32 billion dollars in 2019 alone.
Clearly, both neurodivergent and neurotypical people are oral sensory seeking creatures.
So, if your child shows a constant need to chew on things, understand that this is a form of stimming.
Chewing things, like the stereotypical autistic behavior, hand flapping, is a self-regulatory behavior.
When you see your child chewing on things, know that this is a good thing. Your child’s behaviors are clues to their underlying needs.
What is Autism?
Autism is a unique neurotype that impacts how autistic people experience and process the world.
According to autistic-led advocacy groups, an autistic person may be different from a non-autistic person in several ways.
Differences between autistic and non-autistic people include:
- sensory experiences
- communication skills
- social communication
- motor skills
- the way they think
The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network describes autism as a developmental disability that is not a part of the person, but part of their human identity.
Chewing and Autism: What’s the Connection
If your child spends a lot of time chewing on non-food objects, there’s clearly a reason. However, whether your child’s oral fixation means you should seek a diagnosis of autism is another.
Yes, autism is associated with sensory difficulties and stimming behaviors.
Further, research has shown that autistic children have a greater rate of oral processing differences compared with both ADHD children and neurotypically developing children.
In the end, we know this. Kids who chew NEED to chew.
Often their sensory processing difficulties mean that the oral sensory system is underresponsive. In the end, this means that the brain needs more oral input in order to calm.
Autistic children as well as others, chew when they’re anxious, or stressed, or to meet underlying sensory needs.
Sensory Chew Toys
If your child is chewing on objects that could cause them harm, a good first step is to seek out sensory toys that are made for chewing.
Chew toys come in a variety of different textures to meet your or your child’s unique oral sensitivities. Further, these allow autistic and other sensory-seeking kids a safe outlet for their oral sensory needs.
Some options include:
- Chewy Pencil Toppers
- This chewy pencil sleeve will provide proprioceptive oral sensory input and save pencils.
- Chewable Jewelry
- These chew necklaces are made from BPA-free material.
- Chewy Tubes
- These chewy straws are made from food grade silicone.
- Crunchy Foods
- carrot sticks
- pickles
- tortilla chips
- crushed ice (different temperatures are great input)
- Chewing Gum
- It’s one of the best and cheapest sensory tools available which is why we’ve got chewing gum on Amazon subscription.
In the end, there are many different ways to meet your child’s specific sensory needs safely.
Occupational Therapy
If your child is constantly chewing on things and you want to know if it’s a sign of autism, it’s a good idea to seek professional help. Talk to your child’s pediatrician.
The next place I recommend? Take your child in for a PRIVATE occupational therapy evaluation.
A private occupational therapist, while they CANNOT give your child an autism diagnosis, can help you tremendously.
The strengths-based OT should have a solid understanding of the brain and behavior. As such, when they assess your child, they’ll be looking for clues into your child’s unique needs.
What a Good OT Will Do
Some things they’ll look for include:
- sensory challenges
- your child’s attention span
- body awareness
- non-integrated reflexes
Additionally, a good OT will help you determine if your child’s excessive chewing is related to feeding issues or speech-related issues.
Then, they’ll work with you to come up with a plan to support your child’s unique needs. This will likely include a specific sensory diet for your child.
If they see the potential for underlying medical causes, they’ll include that in their report which you can then bring to your pediatrician.
In the end, what we see as a difficult problem can be addressed when we partner with a strengths-based support team.
Understanding Your Own Sensory Needs
In this video, I speak about adult and child sensory needs (ADHD or not) and how they impact learning and behavior.
Recap: Is Chewing on Things a Sign of Autism?
So, is chewing on things a sign of autism? Yes and No.
In the end, all humans were designed to chew and meet oral sensory needs. Every one of us was born with a sucking reflex for a reason. Sucking and chewing are oral habits that meet a child’s need for nourishment and calm.
Further, older children and adults (both autistic and non-autistic) engage in oral stimming behaviors at different times and for different reasons.
What are the reasons behind chewing on things?
- Emotional regulation
- Sensory needs
- Stress and anxiety
- To calm oneself
So, when you see a child chewing on things, be sure to offer support, understanding, and tools to meet the need behind the behavior.
Well, Friend. What do you think? Have you found a good way to support your child’s oral sensory needs?
Would love to hear from you.
About the Author:
Lindsay is a trauma-informed educator with a Master’s Degree in Teaching. Her mission is to support moms to equip neurodivergent kids (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Anxiety) to thrive as exactly who they’ve been created to be. Wait until you hear the story that led to it all…
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