📍 Location: Bhubaneswar
🧠 Service: Sensory-Based Food Aversion / Social Withdrawal / Autism
📞 Call to Action: AbilityScore©® + TherapeuticAI©® Mealtime Regulation Plan
“She Doesn’t Sit With Us During Meals.
She Won’t Touch Most Foods.
She Covers Her Ears When Plates Clatter.
And If Anyone Tries to Feed Her — She Runs.”
Priyanka’s daughter, Nishi, was 5.
She loved stories. Loved water play. Laughed during cartoons.
But mealtimes? They were at war.
- She refused to sit at the table
- Screamed when relatives tried to feed her
- Gagged at the smell of dal
- Hid in her room during weddings and feasts
“Everyone thought she was spoiled.
But I kept thinking — what if she’s overwhelmed?”
🧠 When Food Refusal Isn’t Preference — It’s Protection
At Pinnacle® Bhubaneswar, occupational therapists explain:
“Many children with autism or sensory challenges associate food — and group meals — with overload.
It’s not about control. It’s about sensory safety.”
Common signs:
- Gagging at certain textures
- Screaming at specific smells or clinks
- Insisting on same utensil, bowl, or chair
- Refusing to eat if others are present
- Eating alone, silently, or not at all
“It’s not disrespect. It’s neurological withdrawal.”
📞 The Turning Point Was a Family Wedding
At a cousin’s reception, Nishi refused to enter the dining hall.
She hid under a chair. Cried for an hour. Refused food all day.
That night, her parents called 9100 181 181.
Not to complain. But to understand.
They were booked for a free AbilityScore©® Screening the next day at Pinnacle® Bhubaneswar.
📊 Her AbilityScore©® Told the Story She Couldn't
- Tactile Sensory Response: 🔴 red (450/1000)
- Auditory Sensitivity (Mealtime): 🔴 Red
- Social Comfort in Group Setting: 🔴 Red
- Food Texture Tolerance: 🔴 Red
- Emotional Regulation: 🟡 Yellow
She wasn’t being difficult.
She was in distress — trapped in a place where everyone else felt joy.
“Feeding wasn’t nourishment. It was panic.”
🤖 TherapeuticAI©® Helped Rebuild Mealtime — One Step at a Time
Her personalized therapy included:
- Visual food exploration charts (see → smell → touch → taste)
- Spoon desensitization with familiar textures
- “Silent plate” group meals at therapy
- Sound-reducing gear during early sessions
- Peer meals with noise + light control
By week 4:
- She ate 3 foods with her mother present
- Sat with two children during snack time
- Whispered, “I like this” — without gagging
“She didn’t need to be forced to eat.
She needed to feel safe enough to try.”
💬 What Her parents Say Now
“This isn’t about food. It’s about fear.
And the moment you stop judging, and start supporting — you’ll see your child try.”
🌍 This Autism Awareness Month — Make Mealtime Meaningful Again
If your child: ✅ Eats only alone
✅ Refuses meals during social events
✅ Gags at smells, textures, or cutlery sounds
✅ Hides, cries, or avoids group eating
…it may not be a “phase.”
It may be sensory-based aversion — and it can change with therapy.
📞 Book Your Child’s Free Mealtime Sensory Screening in Bhubaneswar
📞 Call the Pinnacle® National Autism Helpline: 9100 181 181
🌐 www.Pinnacleblooms.org
📍 bhubaneswar | cuttack | puri | Sambalpur
✅ Free AbilityScore©® Screening
✅ TherapeuticAI©®-Guided Feeding Plan
✅ Odia + english Therapist Support
✅ Parent Coaching + festival Meal Strategy Kits
⚠️ Disclaimer
This article is intended for informational and awareness purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For expert guidance tailored to your child’s needs, please consult a qualified healthcare provider or contact the Pinnacle® national autism helpline at 9100 181 181.
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