Gagging

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Gagging

by Amy
(Trinity, NC)

My daughter has a very strong gag reflex to the point of throwing up at times. Typically it is triggered by the site of certain foods, the site of food on a person/child's face, or the smell of foods. Is there anyone else that has experienced this? What can I do to help my daughter overcome this? She is currently undergoing Occupational Therapy for all of her sensory issues. We have not progressed to therapy where her oral issues are concerned....yet. Can anyone explain to me what exactly happens during therapy and how it has changed your child where gagging is concerned?

Thank you,
Amy

Comments for
Gagging

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 12, 2012
Rating

gagging
by: mike

At 10mon old my son started coughing at night and gagging during meals. We have had a lot of test done, with now answers in sight. the only thing that has helped with the cough and eating is taking 30mg of prevacid. 15mg the normal amount for my sons size was not strong enough. He gags at the site of some foods. The foods are usually thick consistency, like pudding, bananas... I hear of people talking about speach therapy and preparing foods that work for him. What about the cough that starts within 3 days of being of the medicine? The cough is so bad, over 1,000 coughs during the night. Help please.

Jun 17, 2011
Rating

Mints
by: Anonymous

My son has not been officially diagnosed with SPD but he has many of the symptoms (we noticed since 8mos). We've been slowly trying to integrate different sensory stimulants to him. Gagging has been one of his stronger issues since 10mos old. When he was in kindergarten we gave him tic tacs to pop in his mouth during lunch time and we also packed his food for him that way he wouldn't be overstimulated by going down the food line. We no longer go to buffets because the sight of too many foods overstimulated his visual sensory and also his sense of smell. This became too powerful for him that he would start to gag and eventually throw up.

Whenever we go out to eat, we make sure that he is comfortable with long sleeves (due to air condition being too cold) and we also keep him distracted with his DS (game). He can do well around food if he's distracted and not too many stimulants around him. Sometimes he doesn't want to eat and that's okay with us, we just bring his food home. The important thing with us is that we continue to integrate him with the things that he has issues with so that he knows that he is capable of facing them head on. We still us mints and mint flavor gum for him as well. He's is now 10 years old and it's still a struggle for us. He's come a long way but we're still working with him. One day we'll have him see an Occupational Therapist when we get a chance. But sites like this really help us out. Hope this helps somehow.

Mar 30, 2011
Rating

Gagging
by: Amy

Erica, I do not worry so much about what she eats or forcing her to try and eat foods she doesn't like. My concern falls more about when she is around others and gags to the point of throwing up because of what they are eating or the smell of their food, or because a child has food on their face. She will begin Kindergarten in the fall and the cafeteria will become a daily part of her expected routine. I can only imagine how this will go.

We do not see a speech therapist. She was screened and the therapist said she had no speech problems to work with and sent us on our way. The OT we are seeing does work alot with oral issues, so we will be addressing these things once she gains my daughters trust more. Just wondering if there are others that experience or have experienced this with their child and how they have helped them overcome.

Mar 30, 2011
Rating

gagging
by: Ericka

Hi,
my son has lots of food issues. He will gag and spit out food if it is something he doesn't like. Personally, I have never forced him to eat foods he doesn't like. I make sure he gets his vitamins in other ways (tried gummi kids vitamins, he wouldn't take them). Fortunately, i wouldn't allow him to have candy during the first years of his life, so he doesn't eat candy! the only exception to that is one brand of bubble gum.

Anyway, does your child see a speech therapist? They are often good at helping kids with any type of oral issues. When my son was seeing his fantastic speech therapist, she offered to address his food/swallowing issues. At the time, he had other issues more urgent.

I guess my approach has been to Not fuss over what he eats. I have seen too many problems created from kids being forced to eat things they cannot tolerate! jmho, Ericka

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to The SPD Q & A

Gagging

Comments for Gagging

Comments for
Gagging