Oral Sensitivities:
Signs, Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment
When talking about children with SPD, we refer to
two different types of oral sensitivities... hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity.
As you may have already seen from the Sensory Processing Disorders Checklist,
children with oral hypersensitivities - also called oral defensiveness -
will exhibit many, or all, of the following characteristics:
dislikes having teeth brushed and/or face washed
has a limited food repertoire and/or may avoid certain food textures
- especially mixed textures
will take their food off the fork or spoon using only their teeth,
keeping their lips retracted
will gag easily when eating and may only get food down by taking a
drink with it
may exhibit signs of
tactile defensiveness such as; disliking being touched, avoiding messy play
- glue, play doh, mud, sand, finger paints, etc. - , or, may not pick up eating
utensil or food with a grasp that involves the palm of his hand
When Working With These Oral Defensive Children, You Need To:
understand the mouth is an "extension of the body"
let the child know what you are doing and what you will do next, and
use firm pressure with slow even strokes... the more predictable the better
once you have reached the face, start with his cheeks, then jaw, lips,
and lastly inside his mouth... progressing from least sensitive to most
take it slow and do not force stimulation on any part he is not "ready"
for... try it, just don't force it - severe anxiety or fear and gagging are
signs of distress, not effective therapy - gently work your way through this
no matter how long it takes
lastly, remember oral motor programs and therapy for oral sensitivities may not be able to be worked on, or effective, until underlying sensory issues are addressed and sensory stimulation is
tolerated
In Contrast, Children With Hyposensitivities Will Exhibit Many,
Or All, Of The
Following Characteristics:
they love and crave intense flavors, i.e., sweet, sour, salty, spicy
and usually become "condiment kids"
may actually avoid mixed textures as well since it is difficult to chew
and swallow properly when you can't "feel" the food in your mouth correctly
they are the messy eaters; getting food all over their face and/or
leaving bits of food in their mouths at the end of a meal
they often take large bites and stuff their mouths, or even "pocket"
food in their cheeks
are inclined to not chew their food thoroughly before swallowing (at
risk for choking)
drool excessively beyond the teething stage
and, they always seem to have something in their mouths; toys, pens,
pencil tips, gum, candy, or inedible objects (i.e., paper clips, rubber
bands, shirt sleeves and collars, strings...anything!)
When working with these hyposensitive children, you need to:
give them MORE oral stimulation activities and "appropriate" things to
chew on; they will need to chew to feel calm and organized
Chewy
Tubes - Chewy tubes help children to keep from chewing on their hands and
crayons and and help them focus and for practicing biting and chewing skills.
give them sensory stimulation activities prior to meals to "wake up"
their mouths
use oral massagers, vibration, and textured materials/objects for
stimulation
use a combination of relaxing input (deep pressure, firm touch) and
stimulating input (light, quick strokes)
choose foods with increased texture, flavor, and temperatures to
provide more stimulation
encourage the child to take different sized bites and have them "feel"
the food in their mouth (if old enough have them close their eyes and play
guessing games with the food)
wash and wipe the child's face often during eating with different
textured materials (i.e., baby washcloth, napkin, regular washcloth, paper
towel with texture to it)
use the following order for stimulation; start on face with cheeks, jaw,
lips, then teeth/gums, inside cheeks, then tip, middle, and sides of tongue,
then the roof of the mouth
Above all, remember that children with oral sensitivities, whether hypo-
or hyper- sensitive, will need specific treatment and oral stimulation
activities by a knowledgeable therapist. Make sure you consult one if you
are concerned about any signs of oral difficulties / oral sensitivities with your child.
Picky
Eaters - An in-depth, educational article on the tips, strategies,
resources, and products to help YOUR picky eaters; finally, the answers you have
been searching for to get him eating better!
