by Amy Wright Bham

While you might find it terribly unsavory and somewhat embarrassing, eating dirt is not at all uncommon among children with autism. In fact, there’s actually a name for this behavior: pica.

From the Latin word for magpie, a bird known for eating just about anything, individuals with pica have cravings for non-food items, including dirt, chalk, coffee grounds, sand and a long list of other unappetizing things. And while most young children under the age of two have put numerous non-food items in their mouth during their short lives, a child with pica will continue this behavior past the age of two or three, and it will persist despite efforts to stop it.

Dangers of Pica

Consuming a bit of dirt or sand is typically harmless, but pica is an eating disorder that can have dangerous consequences, such as lead poisoning, gastrointestinal blockage of puncturing, injury to the teeth and mouth, and parasitic infestation. That being said, it is important that parents of autistic children with pica work extremely hard to discourage and even prohibit this behavior.

Several behavioral intervention techniques have shown promise in decreasing pica. The type of therapy chosen obviously will depend on your child and the specific behavior, and should be selected after an evaluation by an occupational therapist and other professionals who work with autistic children.

Causes of Pica

There is no general consensus about what causes pica, however, there is significant evidence that points to a nutritional deficit as the cause. This would make perfect sense in children with autism, who very frequently have limited diets and lack important nutrients such as iron and zinc.

In order to address not only the pica, but the underlying nutritional deficiencies that could be causing the behavior, you should consider having some tests run — typically blood and urine tests — that can give you a clear picture of your child’s specific nutritional needs. The results of these tests can then help you develop a strategic plan that could include supplements, probiotics, diet changes and other steps designed to get your child on the road to nutritional balance and better overall health.