Using food aversion to decrease severe pica by a child with autism.

A preschool boy with autism kept eating plastic. Doctors call this pica.

The team paired the plastic with a tiny bit of bad-tasting food. This is food-aversion therapy.

They watched him in class, on the playground, and with new staff to see if the trick worked everywhere.

Plastic eating dropped to zero after only a few pairings.

The boy still played with toys and stayed happy. The change lasted with new adults and new rooms.

Thomas et al. (2023) later showed parents can do the job at home. They added response cost and kept the gain for a full year in a teen.

Rojahn et al. (1987) used water-mist punishment on a teen. It worked, but the mist startled the child. Food aversion feels gentler and still hits zero pica.

Lord et al. (1986) proved you can cut pica without any aversive at all. They gave more staff play and removed a helmet. The two studies seem opposite, yet both win. Pick the path that fits your setting and ethics.

You now have three proven tools: mild taste aversion, water mist, or simple attention shifts. If parents worry about punishment, start with the 1986 attention plan. If danger is high and time is short, a quick food pair can give immediate relief. Always track toy play and mood to be sure the fix does no harm.