My child is an extreme picky eater — gags, refuses textures, eats only 5 foods
Your child refuses anything wet, gags at mixed textures, will not try new foods, and lives on plain rice, bread, chicken nuggets and biscuits. Mealtimes are stressful and growth-chart drops have begun.
What this could mean
Extreme selective eating is rarely "just a phase". It usually reflects oral sensory sensitivity, anxiety around novelty, and sometimes motor difficulty with chewing harder textures. Autism spectrum disorder raises the risk. Without intervention the food list often shrinks rather than grows.
What to do next
Ask for a feeding-focused OT assessment (some OTs work jointly with speech therapists on feeding). Structured feeding therapy using the SOS approach, food chaining, or sensory desensitisation expands a child's diet gradually and safely. Do not force-feed — it makes sensory aversion worse.
Related OT services & conditions
Paediatric Occupational Therapy
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Sensory Integration Therapy
Malaysia's #1 dedicated directory for sensory integration therapists. Whether your child seeks or avoids sensory input, find a qualified OT who specialises in sensory processing, across all 13 states and 3 federal territories.
Sensory Processing Disorder
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (OT)
Your child just got an ASD diagnosis. You need an occupational therapist who gets autism, not a 6-month waiting list. Search Malaysia's #1 dedicated OT directory and find a qualified autism-experienced therapist near you. All 16 states covered.