Typically this would be a clinical psychologist and/or a board-certified behavior analyst. I recommend finding a specialist who has experience and skills with managing pica in individuals with developmental disabilities. These methods can include skill building, redirection and alternative behaviors.

Consider working with a behavior specialist.ДЄ behavior specialist can help you and your child find effective ways to reduce pica. Have your child practice identifying things that are safe and edible versus dangerous and notВ for eating. Teach her to differentiate food from non-food. That alone will reduce her tendency to put things in her mouth. In particular, I recommend activities that keep her hands busy. Provide access to a variety of activities that your child enjoys and that donвЂ™tinclude her pica attractions. This is particularly important if your childвЂ™s pica is related to sensory stimulation but it can help anyone with pica. Enrich your childвЂ™s environment in other ways. For instance, I recently had a patientвЂ™s sister tell me, in a surprisingly matter-of-fact manner, that her brother had bitten the hands and feet off all of her Barbies! 4. I recommend offering support and sympathy to siblings. (I know this is easier said than done, so be patient with yourself.)ДЄlso remember that this is an issue that can affect the entire family. Put items she commonly eats out of sight or locked away. Do your best to вЂњpica-proofвЂќ your home.Д¬onsider your home environment and other places where your child spends time. For instance, her teachers may need to store certain things out of her reach or provide extra adult supervision in certain situations. Let them know what kinds of nonfood items she tends to eat and in what situations. Tell teachers and other caregivers that your child has pica. For these reasons, you and your childвЂ™s healthcare team should keep her pica in mind if she becomes ill or develops related symptoms. Pica can also produce dental problems, interfere with nutrient absorption and result in gastrointestinal blockages and infections. This can likewise be detected with blood tests. A common example is lead poisoning from eating non-food items containing lead. Your daughterвЂ™s care providers should also monitor for pica-related health problems. With guidance from the lab results, you may need to increase her intake of certain foods or supplements. Since low iron and zinc can contribute to pica, your daughter may need a blood test for nutritional deficiencies. Managing PicaДЇortunately, there are several practical steps you can take to protect your childвЂ™s health and safety. In these cases, the pica may reflect a nutritional deficiency. These children thinkВ theyвЂ™re eating food when theyвЂ™re not.ДЇinally, for some children вЂ“ with or without autism вЂ“ pica is triggered by genuine cravings for nutrients such as iron or zinc. With some children, the problem appears to be difficulty telling food from non-food. This kind of sensory stimulation may be similar to other autism-related behaviors such as spinning or looking at lights. The individual enjoys the feeling of eating certain non-food items. But three fairly common issues tend to contribute to pica in those with autism. When parents come to me, they usually want to know whyВ their child is eating strange things.

So I greatly appreciate both your awareness of your daughterвЂ™s pica and your desire for advice. Some feel so embarrassed by the behavior that they donвЂ™t even ask for help. Like you, many parents of children with autism are uncertain what to do. The items I most commonly hear about are paper, soap, pebbles, thread and bits of clothing. This tendency is relatively common in children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities. For the uninitiated, pica (pronounced PY-kah) is an appetite for non-food items. Lynn has co-authored several AS-ATN/AIR-P* tool kits, including an upcoming family guide on pica.ДЄs a nurse practitioner in a developmental pediatrics program, I see lots of children and teens with pica. The University of Rochester is one of 17 Autism Speaks Autism Treatment NetworkВ (AS-ATN) centers. Guest post by pediatric nurse practitioner Lynn Cole, associate director of clinical services at the University of RochesterвЂ™s Division of Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

Pica syndrome brain