How to Manage Humming and Chewing Issues in Autistic Children
Most autistic children hum and chew to regulate their senses and generally deal with the sensory aspect of their surroundings. This kind of behavior is neither meaningless nor does it occur by chance. More accurately, it reflects an individual need and experience. Understanding such behaviors can contribute significantly to ensuring the comfort and, therefore, general well-being of an autistic child.
Humming and Chewing: Understanding Its Role in Autism
Humming and Autism is a common self-soothing strategy among autistic children. It can reduce anxiety, provide interesting sensory input, or help one focus. For many autistic children, humming creates a predictable and comforting auditory environment.
Chewing Behaviors for Autistic Children: Chewing is another sensory-seeking behavior through which children self-regulate. Whether it’s chewing objects such as toys, or clothes, or using specialized tools for chewing, this might provide oral sensory input to help with stress or be conducive to concentration.
Parents and caregivers often wonder how to accommodate these behaviors without them becoming disruptive or unsafe. We discuss how to handle these behaviors and explore some strategies below.
Managing Humming Strategies
Identify the Triggers:
Observe under what circumstances your child hums. When is it while he is stressed, excited, or bored? By recognizing the triggers, you will understand the purpose behind this behavior and be able to address the real need.
Offer Alternatives for Self-Regulation:
Provide alternatives such as noise-cancelling headphones or fidgets for sensory regulation. Some children find their needed sensory input through soft music or rhythmical activities such as clapping.
Set Boundaries When Needed:
While humming is harmless, it might be disruptive in certain settings like classrooms. Teach your child specific times or places where humming is more appropriate, such as during breaks or in quiet corners. Positive reinforcement can encourage them to follow these guidelines.
Encourage Communication:
For non-verbal or minimally verbal children, humming may be a means of communication. The child should be exposed to a speech therapist or augmentative and alternative communication means for the expression of their selves in other ways.
Behavior Management Strategies for Chewing
Offer Alternatives for Chewing:
Offer the child items meant for chewing, such as silicone chew necklaces or tubes that are chewy. These are safer and more hygienic alternatives to clothing, pencils, or other household items.
Meet Sensory Needs:
Chewing often represents an unmet sensory need. Incorporate oral motor activities, such as blowing bubbles, using straws, or eating crunchy foods. These will meet the same sensory need with less opportunity for non-food chewing.
Create a Sensory-Friendly Environment:
If chewing is a stress response, make your child’s environment more subdued. Lowering loud noises, bright lights, or overwhelming visuals may reduce the sensory overload contributing to chewing.
Visual Supports
Visual schedules or social stories can be used to teach appropriate chewing behaviors. Such tools will guide children on the use of chew-friendly items while reinforcing when and where such behaviors are acceptable.
See Professionals:
Occupational therapists who specialize in sensory integration can offer personalized recommendations and exercises to manage chewing behaviors for Autistic children effectively.
Balancing Acceptance and Management
Humming and chewing are behaviors that are natural parts of many autistic children’s sensory experiences. While management strategies are very important for safety and social integration, acceptance is just as important. These are often self-soothing and self-regulation methods; thus, a balance must be drawn between guiding them and allowing freedom.
These behaviors should be dealt with in a very patient and empathetic manner as a caregiver. Instead of focusing on how to stop the behavior, one needs to understand the ‘why’ behind it. Providing tools and creating an environment that supports their sensory needs will empower your child to thrive.
Final Thoughts
Understanding behaviors like humming and chewing in autistic children isn’t about elimination; rather, it is understanding the unique sensory needs of the child. By having the proper strategies and tools at hand, you will be able to build an enabling environment where your child can feel safe, understood, and comfortable.
Whether it be embracing the hums as their personal soundtrack or making sure they have appropriate tools to chew safely, your guidance plays a big role in their development and well-being.
