Cracking the Code of Picky Eating: Unveiling the Sensory-Motor Connection
The Puzzle of Picky Eating
In feeding therapy, understanding the intricate interplay between sensory and motor observations is key to deciphering the complex world of picky eating. As parents and caregivers, you may often encounter behaviors that leave you puzzled and concerned about your children's eating habits. Lets dive into revealing the the connection between behavior - sensory - motor in picky eating!
Decoding Behaviors: A Glimpse into Hidden Messages
Have you ever wondered why your child exhibits certain behaviors around food? Why is it that behaviors can hold the key to understanding their needs? The answer lies in the fact that behaviors serve as your child’s voice, especially for those who struggle to express their sensory and motor experiences in words. Behavior is a powerful form of communication, especially for children who lack the vocabulary to describe their feelings. These behaviors can manifest as picky eating, texture aversion, categorizing foods, and unpredictable food preferences. Such behaviors are like breadcrumbs leading to the heart of the matter—unveiling your child's sensory-motor world.
Unveiling the Sensory World: How Senses Shape Food Behaviors
Sensory processing is the brain's way of interpreting the constant stream of sensory input from our environment. Beyond the classic five senses, occupational therapy expands our understanding to include senses like vestibular (movement), proprioceptive (pressure and stretch), interception (internal body awareness), and tactile (touch). Children with feeding difficulties often exhibit behaviors that stem from sensory processing challenges. These challenges may manifest as aversions to specific textures, flavors, or even a preference for particular brands. By recognizing these behaviors as a form of communication, we can delve deeper into understanding the sensory triggers that influence their food choices.
The Motor Connection: Weaving Motor Skills into the Tapestry
Peeling back the layers of picky eating reveals another dimension—the intricate motor skills required for eating. Observing how your child interacts with food can provide insights into their oral motor abilities. Compare their actions to your own while eating the same food, noting differences like tongue positioning and chewing patterns for example. If your child is aged two or older, these observations can be particularly enlightening as 2 years old is the age that most children have the basic motor patterns to safely eat a wide variety of table foods. Identifying unique motor patterns can shed light on whether their behaviors and sensory needs are driven by underlying motor factors. This understanding empowers you to tailor interventions that holistically address their needs.
For example: the same child may simultaneouly present with:
Behavior (surface) - Food refusal- limits diet to soft foods and foods that dissolve like crackers.
Sensory (digging deeper) - Texture aversion & Tactile sensitivity- high gag reflex response with touch to back of mouth, foods with mixed texture or sauces.
Motor (foundations)- Tongue maintained at midline, chewing with smacking pattern- unable to coordinate tongue to side of mouth to manipulate and chew effectively.
How It All Ties Together
In the journey of decoding picky eating, it's crucial to realize that behaviors, sensory experiences, and motor skills are interconnected. Often times, behaviors that initially present as controlling or obvious sensory sensitive needs are revealed to have a deeper foundational consideration: poor motor skills such as range of motion, coordination, strength, endurance or functional coordination. By viewing behaviors as a language of their own, unlocking sensory sensitivities, and unraveling oral motor intricacies, you pave the way for a comprehensive approach to feeding therapy. Remember, you're not just exploring food behaviors— you are looking for the HOW and WHY behind those behaviors so that your child can gain the skills to eat successfully!
Happy Eating!
