My son hates metal

Nov 24, 2008
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You are not alone!
by: Shell

Our son has just turned 6 years old and has a metal phobia also. It developed around the same time as your sons'(4 yrs) and started with cutlery. He would only eat with a certain plastic handled cutlery saying any other was smelly. This quickly developed in to only using plastic cutlery. From then he stopped touching money, keys, door handles, taps in fact anything metal including toys such as cars or playground equipment.

We got to the point where he would not hold our hands because we were wearing gold (metal) rings or we had touched metal objects. It was a real problem. If the bathroom door was closed he would wet himself rather than touch the handle! He would use his dressing gown to wrap around his bedroom door handle to get out his room in the morning (but then would not wear it as it was smelly).

We tried the hand washing with him but it didn't really help. We tried reward charts for touching things. We bought a coin construction game to play hoping he would join in with us but no. We got a small key operated cash box which we kept in his bedroom and placed a little treat in for him to open in the morning when he 1st woke up. We hoped that without the pressure of us around and the thought of what was in the box he might slowly become desensitized. However, being the bright child that he is he was using a tissue to hold the key!

2 years on not much has changed other than the way we all deal with it. He has placed sellotape around door handle he needs to use, he has his own cutlery that is plastic handled metal cutlery that is not smelly!!! ( the only reward chart success) he will touch taps and hold your hand without a ring! We are much more relaxed than before about it all and he plans his life without metal! He is going to give all his money to his wife to look after.

He takes it all in his stride and will make comments like 'you know I don't touch metal' as if what you have asked of him or commented on is completely stupid! We were seen by the local psychiatric service but they were not really able to help and have never come across this before.

We also have minor issues with socks and under pants at times although this was worse before the metal thing started. Good luck with your son and if you have any ideas, I would be pleased to know about them!

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Nov 24, 2008
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Submitted by: Shell

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Our son has just turned 6 years old and has a metal phobia also. It developed around the same time as your sons'(4 yrs) and started with cutlery. He would only eat with a certain plastic handled cutlery saying any other was smelly. This quickly developed in to only using plastic cutlery. From then he stopped touching money, keys, door handles, taps in fact anything metal including toys such as cars or playground equipment. We got to the point where he would not hold our hands because we were wearing gold (metal) rings or we had touched metal objects. It was a real problem. If the bathroom door was closed he would wet himself rather than touch the handle! He would use his dressing gown to wrap around his bedroom door handle to get out his room in the morning (but then would not wear it as it was smelly). We tried the hand washing with him but it didn't really help. We tried reward charts for touching things. We bought a coin construction game to play hoping he would join in with us but no. We got a small key operated cash box which we kept in his bedroom and placed a little treat in for him to open in the morning when he 1st woke up. We hoped that without the pressure of us around and the thought of what was in the box he might slowly become desensitized. However, being the bright child that he is he was using a tissue to hold the key! 2 years on not much has changed other than the way we all deal with it. He has placed sellotape around door handle he needs to use, he has his own cutlery that is plastic handled metal cutlery that is not smelly!!! ( the only reward chart success) he will touch taps and hold your hand without a ring! We are much more relaxed than before about it all and he plans his life without metal! He is going to give all his money to his wife to look after. He takes it all in his stride and will make comments like 'you know I don't touch metal' as if what you have asked of him or commented on is completely stupid! We were seen by the local psychiatric service but they were not really able to help and have never come across this before. We also have minor issues with socks and under pants at times although this was worse before the metal thing started. Good luck with your son and if you have any ideas, I would be pleased to know about them!

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