HELP!!! Student chewing on hands...

[ecteach]

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I have a very sweet, very kind, very smart student who chews on his hands all day long. He also spits on his hands and licks it off. He has Autism. When you tell him to stop, he will for a split second. This is his first year with me.

The smell is nauseating. I have a very high tolerance for smells. But this is BAD!

Things they have tried in the past:
-Giving him other things to chew on.
-Giving him gum.
-Making him wear gloves. (He takes them off)

Things I have tried:
-Social Stories (he can read them independently)

According to the parents, he has done this his whole life. Our OT doesn't have any suggestions. She has worked with him a long time and has tried the above things already.

PLEASE HELP if you have any recommendations.

I have my wonderful students for 4 years, and I don't know if I can put up with this smell for that long.
http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1692985

 

[prodigiousflame]

Hi ect,
Is he receiving ABA therapy? This is more of something an ABA therapist would treat rather than an OT. They use reinforcement to promote appropriate behavior and reduce behaviors like the ones mentioned above. Does he have an aide in class?

 

[irish80122]

Agree with prodigiousflame, sounds like something an ABA therapist or psychologist can help with. They can conduct a functional analysis to determine the reason that your client is engaging in the behavior and then create a behavior plan to replace the chewing with a behavior that is more adaptive.