Chewing on cloths/straws/etc, and ASD?

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I have read a few accounts of autistic and asperger kids who chew on their clothes/straws, etc, When I was little I would ruin all of my clothes and make them soaking wet by chewing on them, and up until recently, would chew all of my plastic straws, and even chew on the backs of BIC pens. I never really associated this with ASD until the only other person to do stuff like this in my 7 sibling family was my little brother, who has autism, and we were born 9 years apart, so he never saw me chew cloths, etc.

Is this mainly a ASD trait?

Well I think everybody chews on something, a few of my class mates chew on their pens and that but who knows, maybe its common in the Autistic side as well.

By the way, you know your signature with the scores? Where did you get the scores from? If its a test then could you link me to where you took it? Thanks.

I still occasionally chew on my clothes, and I'm 20 now. I don't do it as much as I used to though. If I realize that I'm doing it, I stop.

I like chewing straws. I also used to eat pages out of books when I was about seven or eight.

I never chewed my clothes as a kid. I hated chewing soft things. I would bite my nails until they blead and always chewed on my pens. I broke several wacom pens by chewing on them. I would just stick them in my mouth without thinking about it. Everything people suggested for me to chew, gum, aquarium tubing, things made speficaly for autsitic people to chew on were just too soft. I needed something hard. I eventualy just bought a dog toy meant for dogs that are agressive chewers and it solved the problem. My teeth often get an itchy sensation and pushing them into something hard is the only thing that helps it. Ever since I started brushing my teeth with baking soda, I don't really have that problem anymore. I would often grit my teeth constantaly as a kid. Looking back I realise it was probably a stim. I was putting things in my mouth way past the age kids are supposed to outgrow that stage. I often did it becuase I just wouldn't think about it and needed to chew something to curb the itchy sensation. Chewing on something also helped me to focus. I also remember driving my mom nuts because I would lick everything. I remember this stage and I remember doing it. I would lick to see what the texture would feel like on my tounge. Aparently I just need/needed more oral stimulation than most people.

I have no idea whether it is an ASD trait, but I often chew on my sleeves, and I've adopted a habit of sucking on the breadboard wires in my electronics class.
My classmates find this disgusting, so I will probably have to find a way to stop it.

I also chew on pencils, pens and paper.

I actually never realized how much I chewed on things, until now.

I used to chew on pen caps, and my daughter (13 y.o. with AS) chews on straws.

~Kate

I confirm that I'm used to chew and stretch my collar, so most of my t-shirts are just crap. I also bite my fingernail - one of my nails is always shorter than others and it looks awful.

I don't chew pencils and pens.

Could be an oral stim or fixation.

I don't chew straws. I'm trying my best not to chew pens and pencils anymore. I usually chew pillows, blankets and my own collars. Yum yum!

I do have issues drinking from straws because I chew them enough that they end up breaking... however I don't remember ever chewing on clothes much.

What I do chew on is my stylus. In fact at the moment the thing that holds my stylus to my computer that snapped is in my mouth. Springy rubber that I can stretch and chew on and isn't just stationary is my favorite. This one however started when my wisdom tooth was starting to break through my gum and has continued even when it doesn't hurt.

I used to bite this stress ball thing my parents had when I was 10. I just really liked the texture of it. I still occasionally bite things now if I like the way they feel.

I always chewed my clothe to ruin when I was younger and I still have a habit of doing so if I get very exited/nervous.