Non stop spitting!

This all started happening about 3 and half months ago, spitting here and there a few times during the day just on the floor it progressively got worse over the span of a couple of weeks to the point now it is constant and he will aim at you! Feel like we have tried everything at this point and fear this may never go away which is very daunting! We can not go anywhere at the moment i even feel guilty putting him on the school bus and collecting him from school as i know he is spitting on them, i also don’t feel he is producing too much saliva as i have seen him go for hour baths with no spitting but feel i may need to resort to being seen by the doctor as i am out of ideas on what to do but even that i am nervous to go i to a doctors waiting room with him as i know he will be spitting, its all just a big nightmare.

Total empathy! Your situation sounds exactly the same as that being experienced by our family. We are all really struggling with this aspect of my grandson's autism. He is three years old, non-verbal, and he constantly spits. It is getting worse. Initially it was at meal times, but now it's any time. It's usually when he is in a neutral state, so not upset or happy. It isn't aggressive, or "fired" out of his mouth. He'll lean over and just let the spit slowly flow from his mouth. It's so frustrating as he's ruining furniture. It makes it very difficult to go anywhere with him. We've been told conflicting messages in terms of ignoring it in terms of not making any reaction, and just calmly wipe it up, to telling him it's wrong. There doesn't seem to be any clear-cut advice as to what to do. I don't think it's linked to excessive saliva in his mouth, and it doesn't appear to be any kind of replacement communication method, as he'll do it on his own when no-one else is about. It's as though it's something he's discovered he can do, so he just does it.

I'm very surprised at the lack of responses on the forum. I've not been on the forum for a while, and it was this problem that has brought me back to it. I was expecting this to be a very common trait, but it appears not. Nothing for four years before your post.

Please update in due course if you establish anything in terms of things that might help, to any firm advice you receive. I'll certainly do the same. 

Thanks.

Is there anything new going on in his mouth?  First wobbly tooth perhaps at that age?  Or an ulcer?

It might be that he feels something different and is trying to get rid of it.  I have so much awareness of the feeling of my mouth all the time.

I’m sure others will too! Saturday nights can be a little quieter 

Aw your words bring a tear to my eye as you are right not many people understand and feel constantly judged ,thankful for your kindness and replying xx

‘Failing’ is a huge judgement on yourself. How many parents have these challenges? Not many. My mother taught profoundly autistic children most of  her life until retirement and what the parents had to go through… people have no idea. I have no idea. Only experiencing it could someone. And coping is not failure. It’s exhausting. It’s debilitating. It puts a strain on your relationship(s) and friendships and every moment of every day. But you are getting through each day the best you can. All sounds very woolly  I’m sure, and easy for me to say. I’m sure you love your son, and I’m sorry that things are so hard. 

The mum guilt is real i feel like i am failing xx

Thank you we really are trying our bwst this only started a couple months ago and has progressively gotten worse, ota something you nevee even think will be a problem wven with a special needs child but reall dont have anywhere else  to to turn xx

You’re doing your best 

Yeah I knew my oversimplified suggestions would have been something you’d explored as best you can, it was a long shot! Life must be very stressful for you and I’m sorry. 

We do try as much as possible to give him the wattwr play to distract him as much as possible but as soon as hes away hes spitting we cant go shopping, soft play nothing as obviously is socially unacceptable, i pick him up feom the school bus with anxiety as iwvweytime they say he has been spitting on other kids purposely and there is nothing i can do i feel horrible xxx

I suppose on the toys front, a basin of water and some wee things like boats. A water mill. Floating items and some that sink. Could be immersively tactile enough to reduce the focus on spitting. I remember in playschool being mesmerised by water play. 

I suppose I’m partly thinking of the sounds of water. Something external that matches what a spit provides. Though as some of that is tactile…

Oh, I see. I’m sorry you’re going through something that has you feeling so powerless. Could a doctor help? I’m sure you’ve tried 

This is maybe a stupid suggestion but could a water feature in every room help? An aquarium, a little fountain, things like that. If he no longer has to be his own source… Positively unhelpful I just don’t know what else to suggest. Other people will have better thoughts on it. 

He does not he has juice or water available at all times and still spits! He seems to have picked this up as a habit and we are really at a loss  xx

That sounds very upsetting. He craves water? Does he stop spitting when he has it?