my 12yo son did this for a long time, but has not done it for a while...I did just notice last night tho at his baseball game he was chewing on his batting glove...it seems to me that he ALWAYS needs to be doing something! he's has chewed his clothes as well as paper - I think that I will try the gum thing!
I am new to this message board and the advice is much needed, as well as knowing that there are so many others out there with the same issues!
God Bless you all!
My son continues to chew (he is 11). He has learned not to chew holes in his clothes and through his winter coats but now when times are hard or anxiety is high he chews his mouth. Sores all on the inside during test times and when things are rough. He is on Lexapro for it but it doesn't take it all away.My DD chews on her shirt sleeves and occasionally the inside of her lip. (She did that before ADHD meds, though, and still does sometimes.)
does your child have anxiety? my son did this for the longest time and the doctor said it was related to anxiety.. He has major seperation anxiety at 8 years old. and if he does; focalin can make the anxiety worse.. I am sure that it does have to do with anxiety, he has not been diagnosed with anything, but he does seem to chew when he is nervous...he does so many things that I do not understand tho, and I think that that just may be how it is! There's things that we simply cannot change about our kids (adhd or not!). So I try to subtly remind him when he is doing something not socially acceptable, but if it won't bother anyone else, and won't get him ridiculed, I usually just let it go...My son used to do this before he was on meds. He never seemed to realize he was doing it. It stopped eventually though. It probably went on for a few months.do you think your teacher would allow some gum for chewing? I know that if I was I teacher I would sure make an exception for a child in your situation . BTW my son goes to private OT each week for handwriting and the OT encourages gum chewing.I have heard that chewing gum often helps ADHD children because it allows for constant movement (the chewing) without distracting the other children, or getting up from their seat....My son used to do this, never knew why, chalked it up to something to do with one of his dx. He doesn't do it anymore, actually I hadn't realized that he hasn't done this in a while until I read this post!
Used to drive me nuts though!
I understand what you mean gottagr8kid. I sat down and read this and thought back, it has been awhile since I have seen a hole in Ty's shirt. Yeah! He chewed with or without the med.A boy in my son's cubscout pack does this- actually chews holes in his clothing. I don't have any idea if it's related to meds though- I don't know them well enough to ask, although I've been trying to think of a way to bring the subject up without seeming like I'm prying.My 8 year old son has ADHD and takes Focalin XR 20 mg once a day.. the last few weeks I have noticed that he is chewing on his shirts, sleeves or the tops of the shirts. I asked him why he does it he says he can't help it and that it tastes good!.. any ideas on that?
Sounds like a possible tic, common with stims. I would contact your psych and menetion it asap.My son used to chew on the top of the collar under his chin. He takes concerta, but also has sensory stuff. He stopped a while ago on his own. I would just ask him if he was chewing his shirt and he would get embarassed.
I think it relaxed him when he stressed or had some anxiety stuff going on
Beth