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Hypersensitivity to Input

Individuals with a hypersensitivity to oral input often referred to as sensory avoiders, are those students that ... 

  • Picky eater, often extreme
         (e.g. only "beige food" - chicken nuggets, hot chips etc.)
         (e.g. becomes anxious when trying new foods)

  • Tends to only eat certain textures, may gag when eating particular textures
         (e.g. soft, mashed or pureed foods)

  • Tends to only eat food at a certain temperature 
         (e.g. hot, cold, room temperature)

  • Prefers bland food
         (e.g. avoids spicy, sour, salty or sweet foods)

  • Demonstrates difficulties coordinating sucking, chewing and swallowing 
         (e.g. need to be distracted before swallowing)

  • Chokes easily, or has a fear of choking

  • Does not tolerate tooth brushing

Gustatory System

What is the Gustatory System?

The gustatory system, allows us to recognise the five taste sensations (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami) of our favourite … and not so favourite foods. It is through this sense of taste that we can identify potentially harmful, spoiled or inedible food sources. The process of tasting involves a chemical reaction between substances (food or non-food) and specific taste receptor cells on the taste buds. This information is then transported to the brain, where it is interpreted. Eating and drinking involve more than just the recognition of taste and flavour, texture, temperature and smell are also closely related. It is the combination of taste, smell, and touch, that allow for the identification of foods we eat. 

[Neuroscientifically Challenged, 2018]

Daily Tasks

  • Eating and drinking

  • Toothbrushing

  • Washing your face

Signs of Dysfunction

Hyposensitivity to Input

Individuals with a hyposensitivity to oral input often referred to as sensory seekers, are those students that ... 

  • Observed to lick, taste and/or chew inedible objects
         (e.g. hair, shirt, or fingers)

  • Regularly observed to put objects in mouth

  • Tends to prefer food with intense flavours 

  •      (e.g. excessive spice, sweet, salt, sour etc.)

  • Tends to prefer food that is very hot or very cold

  • Tends to prefer chewy food

  • Tends to be a messy eater

  • Acts as though all food tastes the same

  • Demonstrates excessive drooling

Oral Motor

Oral motor actions involve any movement of the mouth. Those motions around chewing, sucking, biting and drinking are especially important developmental actions and are fundamental for feeding. The mouth is an especially sensitive area and as a result, in infancy, it is used to explore and understand the environment. The mouth can also be used to calm or alert an individual. 
 

  • Nonnutritive sucking - consists of rapid, rhythmic movements is employed as a calming mechanism (e.g. sucking on a pacifier, thumb, or shirt collar). 

  • Chewing can be both alerting and calming, depending on the child

    • Calming - large muscles of the jaw provide increased proprioceptive input, which is typically calming, soothing, organising and regulating for the brain. 

    • Alerting - the jaw muscles are associated with the reticular formation, which controls the body’s sleep-wake cycle, thereby increasing attention and alertness through chewing (e.g. chewing gum when trying to stay awake)

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