Advice please: chewing, and constant pad fiddling

[LyraCat44]

Good morning. My 14yo son has a severe learning disability and he is also autistic. He is constantly (and I mean, constantly) trying to chew clothes/towels or flannels, and/or undo the tabs on his pads. He does both obsessively, and I am wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar and found a way to manage or divert the behaviours.

He will not use chew toes and will only chew fabric.

We've been waiting 18 months to try to see a sensory OT, but neither of us expects that ever to happen now. If anyone has any ideas, we'd be hugely grateful

[Bluey203]

Hi LyraCat44, we had similar problems with my son when younger, now age 22. He did grow out if it, he would do it more when stressed or in pain, but as you say, it does often become ingrained and obsessive. To prevent pulling his pad off, we used a popper crutch vest, and a onesie at night, when in school he had a belt on his trousers done up at the back, it was a special needs school so they undid the belt for going toilet.

Chewing his sleeves and neck of tops was more a problem, fortunately for us he was diverted to chewy tubes. But you can also get velcro cuffs now to put around wrist sleeves and a material necklace to chew or a dribble bib which can be chewed in place of top and is easily changed and washed.

Maybe pulling the velcro is an enjoyable sound, perhaps make a velcro board using sticky back velcro, so he can pull long strips, and maybe a box of different texture materials that he can be redirected to for sensory chewing.

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[LyraCat44 in reply to Bluey203]

thank you! we will definitely try those. appreciate the response

[Jinxed123 in reply to Bluey203]

Hello, my son has Angelman Syndrome, age 30 and has chewed most of his life. It has definitely worsened as he has aged. He is obsessed with plastic and fabric. He will chew his clothes and bedding , we use blankets now as quilts would become very wet. He seeks chewing for the following reasons we believe , firstly sensory need, when anxious /anxiety. Pain relief ( ear infection, constipation etc) , hungry , lastly boredom . Currently just moved into a carehome and on a 6 month waiting list to see an OT. The neurologist told us to allow the chewing but when it is constant I just need to control it as it can take over his day. We give him a sensory chewing hour in his bedroom and try to distract daily. I find active days hekp to distract and keep busy. He does also have a diagnosis of Autisim but Angelman’s are known to habe obsessive behaviours. He is also obsessed with food/eating which is problematic and controlled diet, which does bring on chewing. An OT he is seeing for eating has suggested Tap PAC ( think that’s what it is called) He has had this before at college years ago and he enjoyed. It’s a tapping and brushing the skin activity. I hear you though as it’s so consuming! Hope you get some answers 🤞

[redoninon]

my son also use to do this but he got into using a ipad which took his mind of it but now he wont let go of the ipad that is his obession now but better than chewing clothes i suggest some sensory toys to hold.