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.

Pica syndrome during pregnancy