ATN/AIR-P Pica Guide for Professionals
Pica, the repeated eating of non-food items, is the eating disorder most often displayed by children with autism. For example, a child may eat food from a garbage can or bite off a piece of a toy plastic car and swallow it quickly. Other children hold things in their mouths and move them around only swallowing the item occasionally.
This resource is for primary care providers on the treatment of pica in autistic children
Sections include:
- What is pica?
- Important questions to ask parents or educators of children with autism to screen for pica
- Monitoring for health risks of pica
- Assessment of acute illness in a child with pica
- Behavioral interventions for primary care physicians
"These materials are the product of on-going activities of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, a funded program of Autism Speaks. It is supported by cooperative agreement UA3 MC 11054 through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Research Program to the Massachusetts General Hospital. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the MCHB, HRSA, HHS, or Autism Speaks."
Complete the form below to access the Tool Kit
If you are not able to see the form, click here.
By submitting this form you will receive periodic communications from Autism Speaks. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Our Autism Response Team (ART) is specially trained to connect people with autism, their families, and caretakers to information, tools, and resources.
Additional Resources & Tools
