(Rock candy resembles rock salt, which he had been known to eat.) At first, he immediately reached for the items. They tested Richard by placing pretzels and rock candy on the floor near him. In other words, they wanted him to verbally request food instead of eating it off the floor. case, the researchers wanted to encourage the six-year-old boy, Richard, to perform “functional communication” in place of pica. If he/she doesn’t complete the target behaviors, you withhold that reinforcement.
#AICA AND PICA SYNDROME FREE#
It means that specific behaviors are reinforced, while others are not-for example, if you’re trying to teach your child to consistently brush his/her teeth before bed, you might allow 10 minutes of free time as a reinforcer. Differential reinforcement is a concept used in Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. (2000) used “differential reinforcement of functional communication” to lessen the pica of a six-year-old boy who has autism. Still, several studies have shown successful behavioral intervention for pica patients with autism, an intellectual disability, or other disorders. There hasn’t been as much clinical research into pica as other self-injurious behaviors sometimes displayed by people with autism, particularly pica in autistic children. Speaking of therapists, let’s talk about possible therapeutic treatment for eliminating or reducing pica.ĭon't miss out on the Autism Parenting Summit. They should know to watch out for the behavior and keep any of your child’s preferred items out of the way as much as possible. Make sure that every member of your child’s team is aware of his/her pica, from teachers, to family members, to therapists, and any other care providers. He/she will need to be monitored for pica-related problems such as blockages and lead poisoning. Whatever the cause of your son or daughter’s pica, you should always make his/her health care providers aware of it. Likewise, dental care may be the solution if the patient suffers from an issue with his/her teeth. If a nutritional deficiency is the problem, it may be enough to change your child’s diet and/or introduce vitamins or supplements. The path you take for treating your autistic child’s pica will, of course, depend on the cause. For some kids, eating an object feels good in their mouth and fulfills a sensory craving. Some children with developmental disabilities may still be in the mouthing stage even above the age of two.Ī dental issue could also be the culprit, causing the child with autism to chew on, and incidentally ingest, things in order to alleviate pain and pressure on his/her gums.īut perhaps the most common reason for ongoing pica in those with autism is sensory stimulation. Other children with autism may just be unable to distinguish between edible and inedible items and require more practice. The first thing you should do is contact a doctor to rule out any dietary deficiencies since some patients engage in pica because they crave iron or other minerals. There are a number of potential causes for pica. If your child with autism has medical issues such as unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, unhealthy nails and hairs, etc., then pica could be a possibility.
The most obvious symptom of pica is, well, the behavior itself-eating inedible objects. Meanwhile, only 3.5% of children in the general population engage in pica. According to a study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, approximately 28.1% of children with autism and a co-occurring intellectual disability have pica, and 14% of children with autism but no intellectual disability do. However, the prevalence of pica is higher in the ASD community than in others. It has also been seen in people with developmental disabilities, conditions such as schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder, and even in otherwise neurotypical pregnant women. Pica isn’t exclusive to autism spectrum disorder.
Typically, individuals with pica will still eat normal food items as well. The items vary from person to person-some may crave hair, paper, dirt, pebbles, thread, etc. Under the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic criteria, a person has pica when they a) eat non-food, non-nutritional substances for over a month, b) do so at a stage of development that isn’t appropriate, and c) do so outside of any culturally-accepted practice. The name for the disorder comes from the Latin word for magpies, birds known for collecting inedible objects. Simply put, pica is a compulsive appetite for items that are not food. In this article, we’ll explore what exactly pica is, what may cause it, and how you can help your child with autism if it’s something he/she struggles with.
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