My son, who is 13 years old, acts sick when he eats. He used to be a very picky eater but has gotten much better over the past 2 years. The problem is, whenever he puts food in his mouth, even if he says it tastes good and he "likes" it, he makes a horrible face like you just poured a can of lima beans down his throat. He even sometimes gags a little. I am starting to worry that this could be a medical problem. Any idea? Anyone ever have this issue with their child/teen? I should mention that he always has done this...before, I thought it was just because he was being a picky eater.
Sounds like he could have sensory issues. I would suggest that you request an OT evaluation for sensory processing disorder and therapy.
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/picky-eaters.html
Best of luck,
J.
Ditto to Janet.
Since you don't say he has other health issues I would guess he has sensory issues. A lot of kids labeled picky eaters do. It's not a case of them trying to manipulate or control, it's just plain offensive or even painful to put certain foods in his their mouth.
Talk to his ped about an evaluation.
Good Luck!
There was a woman on Dr. Phil who could ONLY eat french fries the entire time she tried to eat anything else her reaction was worse then what you described but I think it is something to look into further and see what it could be. Good Luck with that.
could be a texture thing, I would have the doc check it out next time you are at the office. I doubt it is life threatening, but may be bothersome to him so don't just forget it. Best!
my nephew loved to do this....it was all the result of an over-active, quite creative imagination! He would imagine....oh, if he was eating hamburger....then he'd imagine maggots crawling around in his meat/mouth & gag. If we were eating spaghetti or pasta....same thing. If we had steak.....then he'd imagine the actual body part of the animal & would say that he felt like puking eating that poor animal's flesh. & it went on & on.....
It was absolutely, positively disgusting to eat with him! After my sis laid down the law.....he finally stopped. Thank goodness!
I agree with the wonderful moms that have answered. Sensory would my first guess. I have raised my little brother all his life and he is now 16. I always thought he was picky or just fussing but he got so much attention that he now has a full blown eating disorder. I wish I would have caught it sooner but I didn't so now it is all out war at dinner. Talk to your dr or anyone that will listen. Thank you for sharing
my child has done this forever and still does sometimes i always thought it was sensory issues as well and may still be some what,but at a 5 year check up a doctor he had not seen but once before asked me if i knew he was a little tongue tied and it shocked me never i said,she said his tongue was stretched enough that he was doing fine with everything now but he still is a little tongue tied so that is why the gag reflex,etc. is still happening. the white thing under the tongue that everyone has is not stretched enough and so it holds your tongue down so to speak so it his hard to move the food around and swallow. it is something to think about,if i would have known earlier and had an understanding of it i would have been better off thank god it had gotten better,because sometimes i guess it requires surgery. it could be just sensory,but just like i said something to think on?
