ABA for Mouthing & Chewing Non-Food Items in Old Tappan, NJ

If you’re in Old Tappan and searching for answers about Mouthing & Chewing Non-Food Items, you’re not alone. Families across Bergen County ask us about this regularly—and ABA therapy works precisely because it finds the reason behind the behavior, not just the behavior itself.

Usually a sensory need

Mouthing and chewing are frequently driven by a need for oral-sensory input — it can be calming or organizing for a child. The priority is safety: chewing on unsafe items, or eating non-food substances (pica), can be dangerous. If your child swallows non-food items, talk to your physician, as pica needs medical attention. See ABA for pica.

Meeting the need safely

Rather than simply stopping the behavior, ABA helps meet the underlying sensory need with safe alternatives (like designated chew tools) when appropriate, teaches the child to request sensory input, and reduces unsafe chewing — often in coordination with an occupational therapist. Related: sensory processing.

Questions from Old Tappan families

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