Re: Self choking (gagging?) behavior

[Guest guest]

Xun I have not heard about it prior but apparently this is something that some

young children do regardless of autism etc. I found various link all over on

this and some of the suggestions are to put something horrible tasting on her

fingers so she won't want to put her fingers in her mouth -bad tasting lotion

was one suggestion -gloves another. Making them wash their hands each time they

do this. (those three suggestions are from teachers) I have the links below

from the teachers as well as parents -many by the way who call this a " phase "

and " attention seeking " .

Here are online links that talk about this fingers in the mouth till you

gag/vomit issue (I didn't see it referred to as " choking " by anyone else):

Best advice I found from a teacher website

http://www.new-vis.com/fym/papers/p-feed1.htm

Some thoughts from the parents of the " normal " children.

http://answers./question/index?qid=20071115174219AA3bbE6

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/archive/index.php/t-201852.html

http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about927142.html

http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/health/vomiting.html

http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about820181.html

http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=15-month-son-terrible-habit-p\

utting-hand-mouth-gagging-stop

http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=15-month-son-terrible-habit-p\

utting-hand-mouth-gagging-stop

http://answers./question/index?qid=20081001174102AALUtLW

http://answers./question/index?qid=20080713070959AAuVHR8

http://answers./question/index?qid=20090501103723AAFOL1j

(shockingly WAY more on this topic if you just search child fingers mouth gag)

And here is one link on the sensory side:

http://www.new-vis.com/fym/papers/p-feed1.htm

=====

[Guest guest]

Whoops put the sensory website as the teacher website!!! So I'll just cut and

paste from the teacher page a bit -link below too:

Fingers in mouth... breaking the habit!?

How do you get a child to STOP PUTTING THEIR FINGERS IN THEIR MOUTH!!??!!??

4th Grade Teacher

This may be completely unrealistic, but would it be possible to have them wear

gloves? I would think after wearing gloves for awhile they would be out of the

habit. Would that interfere with their fine motor skills though?

Steph-ernie

I have had similar problems in past preschool classrooms. I don't know if this

is an option in your classroom,but what has worked for me ,to break children of

the habit of putting their fingers in their mouths and noses is to send them to

wash them, EVERY time they do it. They realize it is a lot more fun to stay and

participate in activities, then it is to be washing your hands ALL the time.

laurieann

My para puts some bad-tasting perfumy hand lotion on the kids that put their

fingers in their mouths. This really works!

klandrum

Kindergarten Teacher

I'm curious too--several of my Kinders do this, often as a response to being

nervous or unsure of giving an answer.

But I wouldn't put any kind of perfumed lotion--or any lotion for that

matter--on their hands. Too many allergies, etc., plus many lotion bottles say

NOT to get them near your mouth! The bad-tasting stuff may be more than

bad-tasting!!

srh

Inculsion PK special education

Your children are probably stuck in the oral stage. Give them candy or something

to chew on. I had a preschooler last year who had a chew toy. I teach preschool

sped.

Mrs_Barrett

First, I believe this is a sensory behavior. I would not put anything on their

hands, that is kinda of like punishing...I would talk to the OT at your school

and see what items she has for chewing on. (My son used a long plastic type tube

and a vibrating item) I would let them have it for the 1st week or two as much

as they like. Then I would put them on a schedule. It may be a sensory habit

and/or reaction to stress. It is very important to address it ASAP. The parents

will also need the item to use at home for it to be successful. Good luck!1

http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/showthread.php?t=28462

=====

[Guest guest]

Xun, I think the key here is discovering what sensory benefit/sensation this

serves/gives & why she likes this sensation. Is it the feeling or the attention

afterwards? Then, try to find a positive way in which she can get the same

benefit.

For ex, if a child spits liquid (water, juice) out of his mouth, it can be

concluded that he is visual & likes to SEE the liquid come out & likes the neg

attn that follows. It also serves as a way to control the situation. I wked w/ a

child that spit liquids @ times, so when I saw him get that look just before he

was to do it, I calmly & lightly placed 2 fingers across his lips. Then when he

spit, the water did not spout out (no visual effect) & instead spilled down onto

his shirt, making him wet, which he didn't like. I cleared this idea w/his

parents 1st & it was a simple way to address the spitting. So my idea also

resulted in a natural consequence (shirt wet) w/o negative attn. We just said

" oh, u r wet. Hmm, if u want to be dry, swallow the water " in a neutral tone.

I'm not suggesting the same exact thing for your dtr---not putting ur hand on

her mouth--no, but finding out what sensory need is fulfilled w/the gagging

behavior & addressing that. Hopefully to find a positive way she can get the

same sensation--eg. Intra oral input or whatever it may be.

Do u have an ABA consultant w/whom u can consult as well as the OT? That is my

suggestion.

Good luck.

Warmest wishes,

Barbara A , M.S., CCC-SLP

Executive Director, Help Me Speak, LLC

410-442-9791

[ ] Re: Self choking (gagging?) behavior

Xun I have not heard about it prior but apparently this is something that some

young children do regardless of autism etc. I found various link all over on

this and some of the suggestions are to put something horrible tasting on her

fingers so she won't want to put her fingers in her mouth -bad tasting lotion

was one suggestion -gloves another. Making them wash their hands each time they

do this. (those three suggestions are from teachers) I have the links below

from the teachers as well as parents -many by the way who call this a " phase "

and " attention seeking " .

Here are online links that talk about this fingers in the mouth till you

gag/vomit issue (I didn't see it referred to as " choking " by anyone else):

Best advice I found from a teacher website

http://www.new-vis.com/fym/papers/p-feed1.htm

Some thoughts from the parents of the " normal " children.

http://answers./question/index?qid=20071115174219AA3bbE6

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/archive/index.php/t-201852.html

http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about927142.html

http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/health/vomiting.html

http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about820181.html

http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=15-month-son-terrible-habit-p\

utting-hand-mouth-gagging-stop

http://askville.amazon.com/SimilarQuestions.do?req=15-month-son-terrible-habit-p\

utting-hand-mouth-gagging-stop

http://answers./question/index?qid=20081001174102AALUtLW

http://answers./question/index?qid=20080713070959AAuVHR8

http://answers./question/index?qid=20090501103723AAFOL1j

(shockingly WAY more on this topic if you just search child fingers mouth gag)

And here is one link on the sensory side:

http://www.new-vis.com/fym/papers/p-feed1.htm

=====