Any products you've found helpful...?

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I'm constantly biting, usually the inside of my mouth, or if I'm stressed, my hands (particularly my knuckles), and I've been trying to stop doing that so much (particularly to my mouth - that's really an all-the-time sort of thing, and it leaves my mouth sore and occasionally bleeding.) I've found some things that help a little bit, but so far straws seem to work the best. The only problem with that is that (aside from the fact that I've been told that it is odd for a 22 year-old woman to be constantly mauling a straw) they are easily destroyed and I can't exactly carry around a box-full of bendy straws to chew on. Is there anything you've found that would be useful in this situation? I did a quick search but was generally directed towards items which were little more than overpriced teething rings (and not something I'd want to carry to work or grad school). Also, are there any other products which you've found useful as someone on the spectrum? (Something that helps with stims or meltdowns or just day-to-day trivialities...?)

Have you tried chewing gum?

I have a problem with oral stimming too, I usually chew on the collar of my shirt, especially when I'm lying down on the couch, or I pick and bite at my lips until they bleed. As far as products that help that, chewing ice helps. It's not the best for my teeth, but I love the sensation and taste.

In regards to products for sensory stuff, I've wanted a weighted blanket for years, and will be getting one soon. They have cheap ones for $50 through a link on Amazon. I also want to find a thick pillow with extra tags on the edges, or make one. It comforts me to have a tag to rub while I fall asleep, but my PillowPet isn't the best pillow, haha.

Yaulkut and multi-vitamins for gut problems and mood. I have IBS and I have found these things helpful

There are so many flavors of gum out there, maybe put together a kit with lots of flavors of gum. Blowpop suckers would good too, you'd have the sucker then the gum in the middle.

When I'm at stores that have baby toys I look for thing with textures. I found these link things with textures on them. I love rubbing my fingers, especially my thumbs on the textured parts. They'd be easy to put in your pocket or keep a few in a purse or book bag. You can hold them in your hand and it isn't very conspicuous.

I have seen these chew tubes at http://www.speechtherapyshop.com/ ...... type in "chew" in the keyword search. They sell a whole range of chewables made pretty much for this purpose. I know of children on the spectrum using them, but think that really they would be great for us adults (at least at home) with injurious mouth stims.

I have a big problem with chewing the inside of my mouth, too. I'd feel stupid buying something to chew on, though, because that would just draw attention to me.

Here are two options:

OPTION 1
http://kidcompanions.com/archives/produ ... et-sampler
(unless this doesn't suit your style)

OPTION 2
Buy some surgical tubing, trim it to size, and push a pencil or pen into it. Then chew it.

I got that advice from the boss of http://www.sensoryintelligence.co.za who wrote a book which contains various tips for managing sensory problems. (She did an assessment on everyone at our office.)

I managed to find a very cheap rubber-like teething ring at a discount shop and cut it in half because I wanted to chew with my back teeth and it was too big for that. It doesn't feel quite right, though.

Explanation: Surgical tubing is what's used in hospitals to drain fluid from someone who has internal bleeding. I don't know whether they'd have it at pharmacies in your country, but a supplier of medical paraphernalia would stock it.

Yeah, I've tried chewing gum, and that helps a little bit, but I find that I still chew on the inside of my mouth a bit even when I've got gum. Also, sometimes I simply can't chew gum - I work at an elementary school where it's not allowed, and I can't exactly explain to a classroom of 6 year-olds that I need gum for oral stimulation because I have Asperger's, but that they're not allowed any - I just don't see that going over too well.

Yeah, that's why I'm trying to find something a bit more inconspicuous than some of the glorified teething rings available out there. I got sent a link to these bracelets that are made to be chewed - they're actually not bad looking, and the website claims that they hold up pretty well and are bacteria resistant, but I haven't heard any reviews from anybody who's actually tried them...

Here's the link, if you're interested: http://www.got-autism.com/Oral-Motor/Oh ... p2859.html

Do you think they'd fit a grown-up's wrist, though? It's annoying that manufacturers always think it's only autistic children who have autistic requirements. I've just decided right now I'm gonna go and start an adult autism products factory, with autistic staff who will double as product testers. Managed by my neurotypical best friend. God willing. Give me another 5 years. I'll be back.

I'm not entirely sure if they're made to fit kids or adults - but I think I saw an advertising picture for them with it on an adult's wrist, but I'm not sure if it's specified who it's made to fit. (I would hope that maybe it's adjustable or something... If it's only made for adults it won't fit me, I'm too tiny - my wrists are about as big around as a silver dollar.)

It is irritating that everything is geared towards children - and not just products, but even the majority of the articles and books out there. It seems to me that the majority of things available are not to help autistic people with their lives, but rather to help neurotypical parents to "cope" with their autistic children. It's almost like they forget that autism is not something we just "grow out of" with age. An adult autism products factory would be amazing, (especially with an autistic staff!) I'm seriously considering starting a blog or something that's geared towards the 18-80 crowd of autistics, and the things which can help them as adults.

Those chew tubes are lovely Make sure you find ones that are for adults, not little kids, or you will just chomp straight through them.

I don't recommend chewing on things that aren't designed to be put in your mouth. While it is OK in the short term, it's likely that some of them have unhealthy substances in them that after months or years of chewing may cause problems. Pencil companies actually have to design the paint on their pencils to be completely non-toxic, else people who chew pencils day after day for years would get poisoned from something in the paint eventually...

Anyway. Yes. Chewy tubes. Go for it. It may look odd, but it's a heck of a lot better than mangling the inside of your cheek.

The live online assistant at http://www.especialneeds.com/speech-lan ... -toys.html told me they DO fit adult wrists too.

There are a number of blogs with a similar focus. (I have also been meaning to start one, but I get too busy with work and other things, or I spend too long on creating the look... usual aspie/ADHD distractions.) You will find some of those bloggers at http://autismwomensnetwork.org/
http://thinkingautismguide.blogspot.com/
and some of them are on this list:
http://twitter.com/list/IlIIllIIlI/llll ... llllllllll
and there are also people like Lynne Soraya who write regularly about adult autism: http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/lynne-soraya
I talk to her at Twitter from time to time.