answer: Know the warning signs.
These disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood are characterized by persistent disturbances in feeding and eating (DSM-IV).
Pica
Pica is significant for the persistent eating of nonnutritive substances which may vary with age. Infants and younger children are typically found to eat string, hair, plaster, paint, or cloth. Older children may tend to eat animal droppings, sand, insects, leaves, or pebbles. Adolescents may eat soil or clay. These eating behaviors would be developmentaly inappropriate and typically associated with other mental disorders. Specific symptons significant of this disorder are:
• Persistent eating of nonnutritive substances
for at least 1 month
• The eating of nonnutritive substances is
inappropriate to developmental level
• The eating behavior is not part of a culturally
sanctioned practice
• It is sufficiently severe to warrant independent
clinical attention
Rumination Disorder
Rumination Disorder is known for the repeated regurgitation and rechewing of food that develops in infants or children after a period of normal functioning. Partially digested food is brought back up to the mouth without apparent nausea, retching, disgust or associated gastrointestinal disorder. The food is either ejected or more frequently, chewed and reswallowed. These symptoms would not be due to another medical condition. (DSM IV). Infants and children are typically irritable and hungry between episodes of regurgitation having this disorder. Specific symptons significant of this disorder are:
• Repeated regurgitation and rechewing of food for
at least 1 month following a period of normal functioning
• These behaviors are not due to an associated
gastrointestinal or other medical condition
• Symptoms are sufficiently severe to warrant
independent clinical attention
Feeding Disorder
Feeding Disorder is significant for its persistent failure to eat adequately, as reflected in significant failure to gain weight or significant weight loss over at least 1 month. Infants with feeding disorder are often irritable, difficult to console during feeding, may appear apathetic and withdrawn, and may also exhibit developmental delays. (DSM IV). Other factors that may contribute to this disorder include parental psychopathology and child abuse or neglect. Specific symptons significant of this disorder are:
• Feeding disturbance manifested by persistent failure to
adequately eat with significant failure to
gain weight or significant loss of weight
over at least 1 month
• Feeding disturbance is not due to an associated
gastrointestinal or other medical condition
• often actively defies or refuses to comply with
adults’ requests or rules
• Disturbance is not better accounted for by another
mental disorder or lack of available food
• The onset is before age 6
Note: The above lists are not intended for the use of diagnosing disorders. Disorders are diagnosed by the severity, frequency and a combination of many factors. Please seek professional advice should any of the above listed criteria cause any concern.