Welcome to my "Ask Me Anything" blog post series!
I answer lots of questions on my social media channels, and it makes sense to share this information (anonymously!) in case it is useful for others, too.
"I’m really struggling with my child's spitting habit. They constantly spit at other children (never an adult) when we are in a supermarket or outside. We did manage to stop it over Christmas, but since school started back, so has the spitting. Do you have any advice and experience with this? I’m really desperate. Google just says it's a common thing with autism, but it doesn't give any suggestions for how to stop it. We've tried ignoring and redirecting, but my child will just turn back to spit at the child."
Hey there, I have seen this a lot before. In my experience, it happens for a few different reasons:
1 - It's an enjoyable social cause and effect interaction. They either enjoy the reaction from children or adults or enjoy their facial expressions. Kids give great reactions. This may be how your child has learned to get an enjoyable social interaction.
2 - It could be a way of getting people out of your child's space or stopping them from looking at your child. It's very effective!
If it is the above two, then modelling more appropriate ways of meeting these needs will be beneficial. You could model social games or use “I need space” symbols or phrases.
3. Alternatively, it could be a medical or physical need, so it may be worth ruling these out with a medical professional, too, just to be sure.
I hope this helps! If you have any other questions, let me know.
*I am not a doctor or medical professional, so for some questions, you might want to contact your GP, the National Autistic Society, or the NHS.
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