autism and thumbsucking

[nickpr]

The thumb sucking issue has cropped up here over the years and I was wondering if anyone has observed a connection with autism, Asperger's syndrome and thumbsucking and, does the autism make it likely that the habit is retained into adolescence and adulthood?

If it's just oral sensory seeking you could try diversion. My 15yo has never been a thumb sucker but will chew anything and everything, especially when he's anxious.

He has chewies from Chewigem to stop him hurting himself or damaging stuff - he likes the pendants but they do lots of different types.

My DS sucked his thumb until he was about 7 or 8 but mainly at night. (We didn't know he was autistic until he was a bit older).
In the end our dentist talked him out of it with logic and kindness, we had to pull his thumb out once he was asleep for a while.
Still needed a fair amount of orthodontic work to correct the damage done.

Me, DH, and 2 DC all have autism and none of us have ever sucked our thumb.

DS2, now 40(!) sucked his thumb until about six - also at the same time folded his ear, or that of the nearest person.

He's turned out to be a very successful and high-earning person, so no harm done

Thank You for your input