Anonymous wrote:For my child, this intense mouthing is brought on by vitamin/mineral deficiencies. When I am careful to supplement with zinc, magnesium, and iron her mouthing virtually disappears

I was searching the archives for tips on strong chewers. Has this deficiency issue been the case for anyone else who has a kid who needs to chew a lot?

Also just in case for people out there worrying, my neuro-typical son went through a big mouthing phase as well at the beginning to middle of the school year every year from pre-K through 2nd grade. Completely gone by 3rd grade.

These chew tools are great. We have used them with our DD for years. They have a loop if you want to attach it to a lanyard or key chain. They can stand up to adult chewing and smell nice. Here's a link to the grape version and there is also a citrus one.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00H6AGD6M/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?qid=1431654665&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=ARK+Therapeutic

For my child, this intense mouthing is brought on by vitamin/mineral deficiencies. When I am careful to supplement with zinc, magnesium, and iron her mouthing virtually disappears

We threw out three coats this season! all the collars chewed. But we sewed a teething ring on the inside and it seemed to have helped in the last two months of winter ....

We have tried chewlery. Did not work for my DD. She's 9.

Be sure to use a sensory diet. Offer crunchy hard Veges in the morning to satisfy that need. Ask the dentist whether chewing on those things that hard can be harmful. My DC was a sleeve and collar chewer on and off, more on in recent years, and ubruptly stopped at age 13. Come to think of it maybe it was related to last molars having erupted.

Yes it's common. My daughter also has aspergers. She has chews all her clothes, all her winter coats and basically everything else she owns or has in her hands even things like like pencil cases, back pack straps, water bottles etc. it's a combination of sensory needs, being anxious and also yet another case of them just not being conscious of how they relate to others. My daughter could be talking to someone and then suddenly decides to mouth her coat and stick the whole collar in and out of her mouth and have it covered with spit. people not knowing her condition go eeew!!

So in my opinion , if you can divert with toys. That will be best but it doesn't always work. At least for us.

My 8 year old Asperger-diagnosed son also has recently started destroying his shirts by chewing. Brand-new shirts. Unfixable holes. Destroyed in less than an hour.

Is this common behavior in Aspergers or ADHD?

Does it mean that something is making him anxious, or is it more likely related to molars coming in?

Also, which of the (made-for-human) chew toys is least likely to stand out in a mainstream classroom?

The fishing tank tubing is a good idea.... though hope it is non-toxic. but otherwise its a great idea.... i am at a wits end too and all my dd's clothes are chewed... sleeves, collars, all of it..... including her glasses, stationery.... we tried diverting but nothing seems to work..... so she is chewing everything. the latest we have given her is a lanyard with an plastic ID in it. Lasts a week and we get another....