What is sensory eating disorder?

Question

I have a 9 year old with Autism and I brought my 2.5 year old in for his evaluation today, and they said he is a "sensory eater", and will need regular therapy to avoid malnurishment. He has choking issues, always has and now he's terrified of food outside of what my husband and I call his "typical Ten". That list of ten foods he will without fail eat.,, but do NOT cover the pyramid. He still breastfeeds until we can get him his therapy, which the OT said was a good idea. Has anyone else's child been diagnosed with this? What have you gone through to help them overcome it? They are putting him in early intervention, and setting him up with a speech therapist and a feeding therapist.

Answer 1

Your son has problems with sensory integration disfunction. An excellent book is the out of sync child. It explains about children with sensory issues. Some people have issues with the way things feel on their tongue. The texture of it just grosses them out. Make a list of the things your child likes to eat and make a list of its qualities. Is it hard? Is it soft? Is it mushy or slimmy? What color is it? Maybe you might see a pattern of what his body doesn't like. I know that there are cookbooks out there where you can puree certain foods and hide them in your child's food and they don't relize it is in there. Your OT will be your saving grace. Listen to their suggestions and read up on Sensory Integration Disfunction. I wish you luck and will pray for you and your children.

Answer 2

Great suggestions so far. I have two kids with sensory dysfunction, both of whom have eating issues. My 13 year old didn't eat any meats until he was four or five. Still now he has trouble with grains and pasta, he gags on them.

My ten year old has trouble not only with textures but with smells and tastes. We had to start small with her, she would get upset if we just put one of her 'fearful foods' on the table. So we would reward to get it on the table without a meltdown. Verbal and food rewards (seconds of her favored foods) Then we would reward to put one piece on her plate. Then we worked towards putting it on her fork. Then putting it in her mouth, spitting it right back out. Then chewing once and spitting it out (You do have to have a strong stomach for this version! LOL!) finally it was swallowing. We would put a small amount of her favorite foods on there, and she had to do the task before she could have more. It took almost a year to get her to do it, but now she'll eat any veggie (except peppers, those are still no, but she ate one today for the first time ever!!!) She will beg for steamed broccoli or green beans now.

It can happen, it just takes some work. I think she was five before she ever ate a fruit or veggie. Just have your ped recommend a good vitamin while you're working on it. We didn't use the pediasure because we were concerned that if her stomach was full there wouldn't be enough hunger to push her to ask for seconds.

Answer 3

Your question really caught my attention b/c my  son who is  5 has been through an evaluation with early intervention. The reason we had him evaluated was b/c he wasn't eating. He has certain foods,very limited number, that he will eat. If its not one of his "comfort" foods as we call it, he will not eat it. I had never heard of sensory eater though. Our pediatrician says he has Asperger's syndrome but EI says he's normal. So we really don't  know. Anyways, one thing I can suggest is pediasure, if he will drink it. Also they have the kids nutripals i think they are called. If  you don't breastfeed him does his appetite increase? The breastmilk may be "filling him up" so he's not eating as much, although I do understand he still needs the nutrients if he's not eating. My son will eat waffles or cocoa puffs for breakfast, and that is it. And only chocolate chip waffles at that.He will eat pizza, mac & cheese,ramen noodles, chicken nuggets, yogurt, bananas and thats about it.It gets kinda hard to make a meal out of just those foods!  Although recently he did try spaghetti! Be patient, i know sometimes its super frustrating, but He made them the way they are for a reason. There exactly who there supposed to be! Good Luck to you!