We sense the world around us through our mouths. It allows us to make important decisions about our surroundings, and is responsible for our ability to chew, swallow, and even communicate.
The need to chew, bite, and suck come from the proprioceptive input that we receive from the pressure in our jaws. This connection is key in helping our brains organize information, stay focused, and process the other information in our environment.
The problem occurs when a child is either over or under responsive to receiving information from this system.
Unfortunately, these behaviors are seen as just being “bad” or “naughty” or “mean”, when that was not the intention She just needed something to chew to be aware of her sensory systems.
On the flip side, another child may constantly drool, put their fingers in their mouth and never eat anything. Their brains are telling them to they needed input that it was not receiving through the muscles and joints in their mouths. Their brain was trying to protect them and no one knew.
