Description

PICA – eating non-edible things continuously – is an eating disorder most common among children with developmental disabilities, Autism, and intellectual disabilities. Still, according to observations, PICA is most common among children with autism disorder.
PICA is diagnosed with four specific scales:
1- Constantly eating one or more non-food items
2- Inappropriate developmental behaviors
3- Occurrence of problematic behaviors that cause referral to a specialist.
4-Age over 18 months
Parents’ methods may not solve autistic children’s eating problems. Sometimes the cause of this is the ongoing medical and sensory problems, which causes the continuation of the situation in children with Autism.
Also, examining the problems with medical tests can show you whether your child needs certain substances that caused him to PICA or not.
All professionals, educators, parents, and caregivers of children with Autism must have information about PICA to apply the necessary care.
Specific skills can help parents reduce or eliminate PICA in their children. What is essential is that the chosen method is correct and moral based on the child’s level of understanding and abilities. PICA may cause child poisoning, parasitic infections, digestive tract problems, oral and dental problems, and digestive tract obstruction.