Spitting

by Jean
(Eau Claire, WI)

I have an 8 year old son who has been spitting for about 4 months. He has spit on the floor and spit food out on the floor.




We have been working on teaching him to go spit into the trash or sink if he has to spit. Many times he does it on the floor,which he knows he shouldn't do but can't explain why. His teacher has noted he does sometimes hold saliva in his mouth.

He is a somewhat picky eater, it is very difficult to get him to try new foods. He also does not like his food to be too hot.

The doctor seems to think he should have his tonsils taken out. While he does have large tonsils he does not complain of having trouble swallowing.

Our floors are trashed and we are at the end of our rope.

Can SPD come on later, in an 8 year old?? What is my next step?? Please help!



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Aug 17, 2022
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starstarstarstarstar 		Janice
by: Anonymous

Yours sounds more like it may be asthma since he has dry skin , dry mouth and spitting
Mar 29, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		8 year old son spits
by: Anonymous

My 8 year old son has started spitting as well an it’s hard for him to not do it. His shirts are soaked in spit he changes clothes 3 or more times a day. And his therapist told me to get him a bib. I want go that far I’ll give him a towel. Before I stick a baby bib around his neck.
Sep 04, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		SPD & Older kids
by: Anonymous

Yes! is the short answer. Many children don’t get diagnosed until they are age 10! The majority arent even suspected until age 8.

The long answer is more tragic: they have always had it but have learned how to pretend and copy what they think they should be doing until their symptoms worsen beyond their control. (Such as they do after a move, changes in routine like starting school or changing school, or even just getting older [or the worry over such] often struggling in school or with homework are the first symptoms parents/teachers notice)

**Let me be clear** that pretending isn’t the same as not misbehaving. There is more going on beneath the surface. This is evident in the high suicide rates between ages 13 and 17 for kids with SPD and ADHD.

It’s hard to admit as a Parent but once you go through getting diagnosed or if you have other children (who have different struggles for comparison) you may notice more that you’ve been missing, or worse -punishing symptoms.
Good Luck. Recommended reading: Kids in the Syndrome Mix by Martin Kutscher.
Jul 27, 2018
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starstarstarstarstar 		help us
by: Anonymous

We need help with our grandson. He is nine and spits constantly on everything and then laughs about it. He is autistic and aggressive.
Jul 09, 2016
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starstarstarstarstar 		Spitting issues
by: Anonymous

I highly suspect that Sensory Processing Disorder is the root of the problem. Our son started this type of behavior at age 11. Autism runs in both sides of our family. His I.Q. is 135, so he can function O.K. Unfortunately, other family members have not been as lucky. SPD occurs within the spectrum of autism.

Good luck to those who must deal with these issues on a daily basis.
Feb 12, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I have the same issues
by: Janice

My 8 year old constantly spits at home, and now has started to chew on his shirt collar. The school will not tolerate spitting so he does do it at school any longer. We thought it was because his medicine to help keep him calm, Intuniv, causes a dry mouth, but I think it is involuntary.

On the other hand, if he can stop at school and not at home, maybe it is attention getting. I have tried to ignore it and keep him busy, and it seems to subside. His teen brother gets on him for doing it, so he tries hard not to do it, or goes in the other room to spit in the trash.

My son is very, very germ conscious, so I have tried to explain that spitting is the most germ filled activity I can think of, and it is very dirty. He also has to put creme on his face constantly as it is dry and chapped.

I may have to go back to his chew "T" to stop this behavior.

All the best in your hunt for a solution.
Feb 12, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		child disorder
by: Anonymous

Hello Jean... when referring to the disorder you described, I have heard of such as autism spectrum disorders. So the child psychiatrist is the doctor to go to.

Regards and hope.

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