Expert: Valerie Herskowitz - 3/19/2011

Question
Dear Dr. Herskowitz,
My cousin has a 3 1/2 year old autistic son. Her son has been a picky eater, but now hasn't eaten anything is 9 days and she is very concerned. She had been giving him carnation drinks, but he won't eat anything else (maybe a fruit roll up once in a while.) She brought him to a doctor and he said that if he is having bowel movements, which he is, then he is ok. The Dr. will not give her a referral for another doctor so she is wondering what to do.

She doesn't have a computer yet, so that is why I am writing you.
Any help would be great.

Thanks.

Answer
Yikes!
Though I have seen this before many times, it always upsets me to hear about children who are so sensory impaired that they won't eat anything. Instead of carnation drinks, she has to give him something like Pediasure or Ensure, which have more nutrients. Have the doctor make the recommendation.

Now to move on, she MUST get help with this issue. Usually, doctors don't deal with these issues. You have to find either a speech therapist, occupational therapist or behavioral psychologist that deals with food issues in the autistic population to start a therapeutic eating program IMMEDIATELY!

The therapist will work with the child and the mom to start getting him to eat better. They may start by introducing smells and textures before they have him swallow. And it is a long road. But have her start IMMEDIATELY!!