Expert: Valerie Herskowitz - 3/8/2010

Question
Hi Valerie,
I am a teacher of children with Autism and have successfully used oral sensory and fun with food sessions to encourage children with autism to eat a more varied diet.  I have, however, a pupil in my class who has only eaten toast and drunk water since he was very young.  He is now 11 yrs old.  He has over the last year eaten less and less and is now severly under weight.  We have tried various strategies but he will gag and scream if we try to offer him any other foods.  When we encourage him to eat more toast he refuses and then eats less.  We are naturally very concerned about his health and well-being as he is now starting to show severe signs of anorexia and has had to be hospitalised.  He is non-verbal and although he uses some signing and picture exchange cards he has severe learning and communication difficulties so it would be really difficult to ask him or to talk to him about food and eating.  We have also tried social stories.
Please can you suggest anything else?

Answer
Hi Maggie

THIS IS SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE. THIS CHILD WILL DIE IF HE IS NOT PROPERLY TREATED!

I am shocked that no one has taken this child to someone that can work with him at his age. There are specialists that work on eating disorders (Occupational therapists and some psychologists). Meanwhile is he not under dr's care. Most children like this have a feeding tube inserted into their stomachs and are fed through the tube nutrient supplements until they eat properly on their own. What is going on here! Is there not a doctor who is handling this!