Do you have a student who likes to chew on or mouth things around your classroom? I do, too! In students with autism or other sensory processing needs, oral-seeking behavior is a common behavior that you may come across. Depending on the severity, it can be dangerous; however, there are ways to be sure your student is SAFE while still receiving the input they may be seeking!
What is Oral-Seeking Behavior?
In a simple definition, oral-seeking behavior is when a student puts an item (edible or inedible) in their mouth in an excessive manner. Items that you may see a child chewing, mouthing, or sucking on could be the collar of their shirt, fingers, crunchy snacks, shaving cream, paint, beads, or sensory bin fillers. Tooth grinding and excessive mouth noises are also considered oral-seeking behaviors. Engaging in these can put the student at risk of choking, breaking teeth, or other health conditions. However, trying to stop this behavior without finding out the “Why” behind it, could amp the behavior up and cause bigger problems in the future.
Understanding the “Why”
As with all students with sensory processing needs, the “why” behind the behavior will differ for each student. Does your student have anxiety? Is there a pattern or certain time of day they exhibit this behavior? Does your student appear to be frustrated or happy? Or is your student overstimulated and trying to self-regulate? Once you understand the “why,” the team can come up with strategies to help the student safely engage in oral-seeking behavior.
Tools to Utilize
Shown above are just a few tools that can be utilized for oral-seeking behaviors. Some students like to chew on hard or crunchy snack items. For this, you can offer them hard bubble gum, frozen gummy worms, popcorn, or pretzel nuggets. Vibrating items like a toothbrush or teether toy can provide great sensory input for your student. Once, I had a student who loved to carry around straws. They would chew on, suck on, and wrap them around their fingers. These were the plastic disposable straws. To keep them from chewing off pieces of plastic, I would give them silicone straws that were easier to bend and knot, and safer to chew on.
Strategies for Oral-Seeking Behavior
Allison (OT), an SSE Blogger, has a great blog on strategies for oral-seeking behavior. Activities like blowing bubbles, using a harmonica or whistle, heavy work, or breathing exercises are great strategies to try with your students! One important reminder is to always work as a TEAM. Be sure to include the OT, speech therapist, and parent/guardian before making any final decisions of strategies to utilize. It is crucial that everyone is on the same page for the student!
Check out Uplift Therapy Center for more resources on oral-seeking behaviors!
