E-mail Subject: picky
eater
Dear Abbie,
I am an outpatient therapist
working with a 9 year-old
boy who is an extremely
picky eater. He has been
this way since infancy. He
only likes a few foods and
will go days without eating
before he will eat something
he doesn't like. He does not
like touching certain foods
and does not like the
texture of certain foods in
his mouth. He gags as soon
as certain foods are near
his mouth and needs to wash
his hands after touching
certain foods. The doctor
has found no physical
problems which may cause
difficulty eating or
swallowing. We have been
playing with food, having
him hold foods in his mouth,
alternating foods that he
likes with those he does
not, and other similar
activities. Do you have any
ideas or suggestions for
helping him and his parents?
Thank you for your time and
consideration.
Shelly
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Shelly,
It sounds to me as though
you are doing all the right
kinds of things and I am
interested to know if your
efforts have been
productive. Are you seeing
changes? How is the child
responding?
Can this child also work
with an occupational
therapist, speech therapist
and /or Feldenkrais around
issues with his mouth?
How about trying the "food
chaining" that is described
in the feature articles on
my site?
Abbie Natenshon
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Dear Abbie
We have reached a point
where he can put foods in
his mouth and hold them
there for a few seconds. He
is understandably resistant
to these changes; however,
he is able to gauge when the
goal is doable or too
much-so he has some input in
his goals for the week. His
input seems to help in
garnering more cooperation
from him.
This week his goal is to put
3 different foods in his
mouth and chew; he can then
spit them out if he needs
to. He and dad were also to
pick out five vegetables to
play with on a large piece
of plastic on the
floor-touching them,
smelling them, smashing
them, etc. I don't know how
this week has been for him
yet.
I will check out the "food
chaining" you mentioned.
Shelly
To be continued..........
