Re: Food texture sensitivity

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Posted By A Son-Rise Message Board Participant on November 18, 1999 at 00:28:44:

In Reply to: Food texture sensitivity posted byDebbie on November 17, 1999 at 01:48:45:

A thing I learned recently that I wish I'd known about when Curty was having these problems is that stimulating the trigeminal and cranial nerves regularly greatly reduces sensativity in all senses especially taste. The trigeminal nerve runs all over the face so to stimulate it, just lightly tickle the face, neck, shoulders and head for one minute, then apply finger pressure to the same areas for another minute. Doing it regularly (3-4 times a day) can calm the system down and from what I've heard tactile sensative kids begin to take foods easier.

As for introducing new foods, we did a variety of things. First we VERY SLOWLY added bits of new foods to creamy stuff he was eating (like two very small pieces of ground lamb -- a dot's worth -- to smashed sweet potatos) and then very gradually built up. This allowed him to build up his ability to handle the rougher textures. We also had everyone eat food in front of him and play with it to make it more comfortable for him. We'd let him put it in his mouth and spit it out and stomp on it, finger it, or whatever until he was comfortable enough to try it. It took a very long time but once he'd try a new food, he'd usually continue to eat it. Good luck.
Gaylen

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Subject: Re: Re: Food texture sensitivity

Comments:: A thing I learned recently that I wish I'd known about when Curty was having these problems is that stimulating the trigeminal and cranial nerves regularly greatly reduces sensativity in all senses especially taste. The trigeminal nerve runs all over the face so to stimulate it, just lightly tickle the face, neck, shoulders and head for one minute, then apply finger pressure to the same areas for another minute. Doing it regularly (3-4 times a day) can calm the system down and from what I've heard tactile sensative kids begin to take foods easier. : As for introducing new foods, we did a variety of things. First we VERY SLOWLY added bits of new foods to creamy stuff he was eating (like two very small pieces of ground lamb -- a dot's worth -- to smashed sweet potatos) and then very gradually built up. This allowed him to build up his ability to handle the rougher textures. We also had everyone eat food in front of him and play with it to make it more comfortable for him. We'd let him put it in his mouth and spit it out and stomp on it, finger it, or whatever until he was comfortable enough to try it. It took a very long time but once he'd try a new food, he'd usually continue to eat it. Good luck. : Gaylen