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My son chews on the inside of his cheek...?
My son obviously has some special needs... although at this point he's only been diagnosed with a "developmental delay" being that we've been on an 8 month waiting list for him to be tested for autism. He has alot of sensory issues and in the past couple of months he's been biting the inside of his cheek. It will bleed and bleed and he will still continue to chew, it's quite disturbing. His doctor says that seeking stimulation like this is normal for children with "mental problems" and to do the best I can to distract him with redirection. As if autism hasn't terrified me enough up to this point, now I'm under the impression that my son is psychotic! Please, does anyone have comforting stories to tell me of a child who has gone through the same phase?
4 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavourite answer
Your doctor is right! Keep him stimulated with other things so that he doesn't get "bored" and start chewing his cheeks. I do this too, I've done it for as long as I can remember, but when I was little I had a problem with digging in my ears. It was a bad habit back then, I would dig until my ears bled and didn't realize that it hurt at the time. Kids sometimes do things to test if it hurts our not, and things like that can be "normal" but also detrimental. Give him lollipops or something to keep his tongue active so he won't feel the need to chew his cheeks.
Source(s): past bad habits - avonmomLv 61 decade ago
you have not said how old your son is...it does sound like it is a sensory issue. I would provide him with something to chew instead of his cheek. A thick piece of rubber tubing, a baby teether, a toothbrush, etc.
I would also find a new doctor! My oldest son has PDD-NOS ( he is on the autism spectrum) and I have never had a doctor refer to his problems as "mental problems"...they refer to his delay, or his disorder. Your son is not crazy, he is delayed. You need to contact your local early intervention program or elementary school and let them know how urgent the situation is so maybe they can expidite the testing progress.
Source(s): mom of 3. oldest is on the autism spectrum. youngest went through the early intervention program for a speech delay - Anonymous1 decade ago
I chew on the inside of my cheek.It is a bad habit since it can raise the chances of getting mouth cancer.
Sometimes, I don't even know I am doing it! something about it is addicting.
As for your son, perhaps he is unaware of doing it? Maybe his pain receptors are not that strong in his mouth and he cannot feel it?
Sorry that this isn't that comforting lol...I just had to reply since I was doing it when I came across your question lol.
