Toddlers, for example, may be stimulated simply by playing a game searching for toys. To this end, therapists help parents and caregivers come up with developmentally-appropriate stimulation plans. Therefore, a plan to decrease Pica should include alternative ways of obtaining stimulation (oral and otherwise) that are both positive and reinforcing (e.g., enjoying safe food items, and engaging in other highly desirable activities). Dangerous substances that are possibly ingestible should be removed from the home (and other relevant environments) immediately so that they are not available as temptations.Ĭhildren with Pica enjoy not only the taste or texture of whatever substances they chose to eat, but also the oral stimulation involved. Speaking with a dietitian who is familiar with Pica can be very helpful in coming up with appropriate and tempting menus. Replacing non-food items that children ingest with more suitable, nutritious food items is an important goal. One of the first steps is to encourage children to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Despite the test's name, it is appropriate for children aged 0 to 42 months, or roughly until age 3 ½. These scales assess children's sensation and perception, memory, learning, problem solving, abstract thinking, and motor movement (e.g., coordination of large muscles and fine muscles in the hands and fingers) abilities. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development measure children's sensory and motor development.
Pica and autism in toddlers full#
A developmental assessment (such as the Bayley Scales, described below), and comprehensive evaluations of children's home environment, including parental caregiving practices, dietary factors (whether or not children have been eating properly and receiving the full complement of necessary nutrients), physical activity levels, etc., may also be conducted. The assessing clinician will need to gather as much information about the child as possible, so parents will generally be asked to describe the child's medical, psychological, and developmental histories, as well as food-related behavior, environmental factors that seem to trigger the pica symptoms, and the consequences of food related behavior. Information about the overall prevalence rates for Pica is limited, however.īecause of the potential health hazards and risks associated with Pica (e.g, malnutrition, poisoning, death), children suspected of having Pica are generally thoroughly examined by a pediatrician or family physician. Approximately 15% of adults with severe Mental Retardation also have Pica. For example, the prevalence of Pica appears to increase with the severity of retardation. Pica is more common among children and adolescents with other developmental disabilities such as Autism and Mental Retardation.
In other words, the reasons why Pica occurs are not definitively known at this time. Other theories suggest that Pica is caused by oral fixations, a lack of appropriate stimulation, or a lack of parental attention. Theorized causes of Pica include iron-deficiency (anemia), zinc deficiency, mental retardation, developmental delays, and a family history of Pica. Adolescents affected by the disorder often consume clay or soil substances. In contrast, older children with Pica tend to eat animal droppings, sand, insects, leaves, or pebbles. Younger children with Pica frequently eat paint, plaster, string, hair, or cloth. The typical non-food substances that children with pica ingest tend to vary with age. This disorder has been described as one of the most serious forms of self-injurious behavior (i.e., deliberate self-harm) because of the high risk of death from this type of behavior. Pica may result in serious medical problems, such as intestinal blockage, poisoning, parasitic infection, and sometimes death. Pica may not sound like a dangerous problem, but when you consider that the non-food substances that are ingested are frequently toxic or otherwise harmful to the human body, the potential for illness and even death becomes clear. Pica is a disorder that occurs when children persistently eat one or more non-food substances over the course of at least one month.
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