Help! Autistic DS has started putting everything in his mouth

[Moanthensmum]

I'm really worried about my DS, he is going to be 5 in October yet recently it feels like his development has taken a bit of a backwards step.

For example, we got through the phase of not going to bed and constantly coming out his room, then we got the screeching all the time, then we got escaping and running off now it is chewing everything in sight. As in, non food items. It's very worrying as he destroyed DH's bluetooth wireless headphones and DS also chewed on the tubing of his own hearing aids at nursery today.

I don't know what to do about this and am starting to really feel down about all the issues we have. DS doesn't talk, doesn't have good eye contact, is not in any way toilet trained despite us trying since he has been 3. We were told to abandon nappies and go to pants only by an autism toilet training book but the mess has been absolutely unbearable at nursery and at home so he is back in pull ups again.

At nursery he was smearing his poo as well whenever it happened in his pants and they had to get specialist cleaners in, this is a mainstream nursery so DH and I really appreciated their understanding at the time so felt it wasn't fair to continue with this advice. Anyway sorry, that's not related to my original post, I'm just getting so down about all of these issues DS has.

He was born prematurely as I had a partial placental abruption; I nearly died he nearly died and I feel guilty about this every day. Like, perhaps I did this to him with my body having this abruption somehow. He has had brain scans showing he isn't brain damaged but I feel like there's so much DS struggles with that I don't know if there is something that happened and it's a worry.

Regarding my current worries about chewing inappropriate things, what do I do? Also advice about autism stuff generally would be so appreciated as this is the start of our journey with this and it's a bit overwhelming. Sorry if that sounds a bit 'me me me'; I don't mean it to. I love my DS so much it hurts. I just want him to live a full and happy independent life and I'm worried he won't be able to.

Have you tried chewelry? Try and redirect him to something safe to chew each time he does it.

How is he with eating? Can you give him opportunities to try foods with different textures to try and provide that same feedback - dry cereal etc.

Does it seem to be anxiety driven?

Does he start school this year? Does he have an EHCP?

It sounds like you have a lot going on. Try to keep yourself grounded and not let your thoughts spiral - the placental abruption was not your fault. Ask for help if you have family and/or friends that are willing.

Hi, thanks @openupmyeagereyes that's good advice. I'm in Scotland so I think the process is a bit different to England, so I don't think he will have a plan in place at the moment. We have deferred him a year, he would have been due to start school next week but he will remain at nursery another year.

I think I just find everything a bit overwhelming right now, thanks for replying.

It can be normal for progress and development to not be linear.

Have you had a home OT assessment looking at making the home safer and better meet DS’s needs? And, has DS had a sensory OT assessment?

DS needs more support at nursery. Have you spoken to Enquire? Does DS have a CSP?

For toileting, is DS under the continence service?

All good points, answer is no to them all, I will start researching this. We haven't had any OT input at all since we were put on the waiting list for neurology team. I will look into continence service as well, like I said I don't know if it's slightly different up here in Scotland compared to English system. I've not heard of CSP or Enquire, will look at them too. Thank you @OvertakenByLego !

Ah okay I've just looked it up and Enquire is the Scottish support system, nobody had told us about this. Will keep looking, thank you again!

my boy is very similar to you (having my own failing at toilet training my son today!)

School want to refer him for PICA but we’ve only just discussed this so nothing concrete there to offer.

Mostly it’s extreme vigilance about locking things away. We had a real problem with him swallowing gravel a year or so ago so we swept it all out the garden.

All remote controls are locked in a draw so he can’t get at the batteries. It’s exhausting.

With the hearing aids that’s a tricky one. You mentioned too things to do with ears that he puts in his mouth. Even though it sounds gross is there something about the taste he likes?

Enquire provide a similar service in Scotland that IPSEA does for England. A CSP is the nearest Scottish version of an EHCP (although they aren’t quite the same).

In some areas you can self refer to the continence service.

Not all areas commission sensory OT on the NHS, but it is worth a referral anyway. And, you can request a home OT assessment to look at adaptations to make home as safe as possible.

This is great advice, thank you! I will speak to DH tonight and start getting a plan in place.

Appreciate your response, also thanks to everyone's really helpful advice. I'm finding Mumsnet to be such a good resource! I only joined 2 weeks ago, I wish I had now when both my DSs were babies.