Swallowing pills and autism

Every child with autism is different but many suffer from sensory overload when it comes to taking medication and supplements. Both my boys respond very differently to taking pills. My eldest never learned to swallow pills but will chew hard coated pills and his fish oil supplements even though I would think the taste would be bothersome. He takes them without dissent and I couldn’t be happier.

My youngest, however, will not chew a pill if there is the possibility of any bad taste. We have worked on swallowing pills and it’s been a battle as he responds with a gag reflex. It’s going to take some time to overcome this sensory response. Because of this, supplements such as vitamins are taken in either a gummy form or liquid. His medication is also available in liquid form and he has no interest in transitioning to pills as of yet.

I researched pill swallowing and found this informative site. I have yet to try the suggested methods.

https://www.singlecare.com/blog/teaching-children-with-autism-medication/

Feel free to share your experiences and clever techniques to help with this issue. As of now, I will continue to rely on gummies and liquid.