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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

How to stop autistic Ds chewing through clothes

2 replies

Mammasjusttired · 22/08/2025 19:55

DS is 6 and recently diagnosed with ASD, awaiting a ADHD assessment. He’s always chewing, so much so that he even grinds and chews his teeth at night. He has chew necklaces that we encourage him to wear and these seem to massively help with his anxiety when we are out. However even when he’s got these on he still chews his clothes and I’m at my wits ends with it! He’s chewed through the neck bit of every t-shirt he owns, gone through 6 pairs of jeans (he bites the knees), can’t wear school jumpers for more than a week etc.
Ive looked at burning the wrist cuffs to stop him biting those and as I say he always has his chew necklaces on but does anyone have any tips of how to get him biting through the tops of his tshirts? They look like they’ve been attacked by moths and I can’t afford to keep buying new clothes every week (we have applied for DLa but only just sent the forms off)

OP posts:
flawlessflipper · 22/08/2025 20:15

A bracelet/necklace made out of clothing material rather than the normal type of chewelry might help.

Has DS had a sensory OT assessment?

What are his anxiety levels like?

24Dogcuddler · 22/08/2025 23:03

Sensory experts recommend dog toys ( proper brands like Kong not cheap ones) for persistent chewers. You can buy toys that are material/ textured. Worth a try.
Seek a sensory assessment as PP advised. Look at SPD and strategies/ resources.

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