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HELP!

Confuseddaddotcom

Hi,

please excuse the title, but it is quite apt for us at the minute.

We have a 6 year old daughter with ASD, who has never had any issues with eating throughout her young life, but during the past fortnight in particular (odd occasions in the past too) she is crying at every evening meal. Never during lunch, or breakfast which could be toast, cereal, soup, sandwiches, burgers, curries (Korma), cowboy pie (desperate dan steak pie) and so on.

Her paediatrician isn't uch use tbh ( e.g. apparently our daufhter got so upste at flies in a room because she could see the likes of their eyes so mclearly. Couldn't be further from the truth, we had her eyes tested and she's got horrendous vision), neither is the speech and language therapist (the good person who asked our son to sing all his answers at school to help with his tourretes! seriously, a 13 year old with ASD???) and the doctors will usually just throw another referral to one of them and move us on.

Any help and advice greatly appreciated.

Parents

  • I agree with the replies given already.

    I found evening meal times very difficult as a child and often cried because of the stress I experienced during the day. I was not able to articulate what the problem was, not because of speech problems but because I didn't exactly know what the problem was at the time. I wished that my family would ask me what I wanted to do or what I needed and also give me some time to think about what I wanted/needed.

    Also, it seems a lot of ASD people have eating issues and eating disorders. Many are "super tasters", I can't stand having salt on my food, or the taste of onion or garlic (for example), anything strong tasting, but also certain textures. Many use food to control anxiety either through limiting food, or comfort eating.

    It is difficult as your daughter is so young, but perhaps you could aske her, very gently what is wrong, tell her you are concerned about her being sad, and ask her to think about why she is sad and then come and tell you later so that you can sort it out. As a child I just couldn't say right away what the problem was, but after a while of thinking I could see what it was. Bear in mind it might be something that will seem to you quite small, but is worrying or upsetting her to a large extent. It may aso be something that requires a creative solution from you.

    I hope she will feel better soon. 

Reply

  • I agree with the replies given already.

    I found evening meal times very difficult as a child and often cried because of the stress I experienced during the day. I was not able to articulate what the problem was, not because of speech problems but because I didn't exactly know what the problem was at the time. I wished that my family would ask me what I wanted to do or what I needed and also give me some time to think about what I wanted/needed.

    Also, it seems a lot of ASD people have eating issues and eating disorders. Many are "super tasters", I can't stand having salt on my food, or the taste of onion or garlic (for example), anything strong tasting, but also certain textures. Many use food to control anxiety either through limiting food, or comfort eating.

    It is difficult as your daughter is so young, but perhaps you could aske her, very gently what is wrong, tell her you are concerned about her being sad, and ask her to think about why she is sad and then come and tell you later so that you can sort it out. As a child I just couldn't say right away what the problem was, but after a while of thinking I could see what it was. Bear in mind it might be something that will seem to you quite small, but is worrying or upsetting her to a large extent. It may aso be something that requires a creative solution from you.

    I hope she will feel better soon. 

Children
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