If your autistic child won’t take liquid medicine you are not alone, this is a common difficulty for parents in our position.

In this article we explain why this may be the case and what you can do to try to address the issue.

Children with autism and medicine

As parents of autistic children, it can be difficult to watch our children resist the most basic of tasks.

It is even more difficult when it relates to something like medicine as it is obviously crucial for their well-being.

For children with autism however, the act of taking medicine can be a daunting and overwhelming experience.

Below we delve into some of the reasons why it could be so difficult.

Sensory factors

Time and time again with autism, our struggles come back to sensory factors.

Resistance from a child to take medication is no different.

For some children with autism, the texture, taste, and smell of liquid medicine can be overwhelming and unpleasant.

Even the sensation of swallowing the liquid can also be uncomfortable and cause distress.

A break to routine

Autistic children can also struggle with the feeling of being out of control, with taking medicine out of their usual routine.

Put simply they may be thinking that they didn’t have to take medicine the day before, or the day before that, why do they have to now?

They may also feel like being forced to take medicine as an invasion of their personal space. They may feel as though they have no say in what is happening to their body and that can be scary and unsettling.

This lack of control can cause anxiety and resistance to taking medicine.

Communication struggles

Like with the sensory issues, another common trend with autistic children are problems with communication.

This is a really impactful factor when it comes to trying to give your child medicine.

If you can’t explain to your child the reason why they need to take it, from their point of view it seems unnecessary.

They won’t be associating the illness with the medication, they’ll simply see it as you forcing something unpleasant on them.

What parents can do

Identifying the likely issues goes part of the way to trying to find a solution. Let’s explore some tips for parents to make the experience less stressful for everyone involved.

Use a syringe

This may be something you are trying already but if you are currently using a spoon, a syringe may be a good option.

Firstly it helps you bypass the front of your child’s mouth, perhaps overcoming some of the sensory issues.

Secondly it is less messy than a spoon as you won’t be trying to balance the liquid whilst getting it towards your child’s mouth.

In addition you could let your child practice with the syringe with juice or water to acclimatise them to the process.

Improve the taste

Firstly you could request from your pharmacist that you are provided a sweetened medicine.

This isn’t always possible but it is certainly something worth requesting.

Along the same vein after consulting with your pharmacist or doctor you could try adding something at home to the medicine.

This could be as simple as adding some sugar, juice or flavored liquid to make it more palatable.

Reward positive behaviour

If you do start to see success with the medicine be sure to let your child know how happy you are.

Rewards can be something small like a sticker or a treat, or something more significant like a favorite activity or outing.

Mix with food

If you have tried everything and you still can’t get your child to take the medicine you could consider mixing it with their food.

Again before doing so you should always consult with your doctor or pharmacist but this may be a way of getting the medicine in your child.

If you choose a strong tasting, liquid foodstuff then it is likely they wouldn’t even notice the medicines presence.

Again it is dependent on medical advice and the child’s preferences but mixing with something like a milkshake could lead to success.

Explain consequences

This will clearly be dependant on your child’s level of communication and understanding but it is something worth trying.

You could attempt to explain to your child that if they don’t take their medicine they may feel worse.

This explanation doesn’t have to be via words, you could use picture cards or even a stuffed animal to demonstrate with.

Summary – Autistic child won’t take liquid medicine

Having an autistic child who won’t take liquid medicine is one of the most challenging things a parent can face.

Even refusing something as basic as antibiotics can have serious consequences let alone other medication requirements.

It is something which parents of neuro-typical children often take so very much for granted.

By understanding the reasons behind their child’s aversion and implementing strategies parents can make progress.

Remember to be patient and remain positive throughout the process, and seek professional help if necessary.