The child hyper-reacts with a stronger response to a specific sensation than expected. The sound of the food arriving, or the smell of food may trigger involuntary movement of the body or a wide mouth opening in anticipation of eating. When the child is hungry and eager to eat, the tongue may push out of the mouth or the teeth grind together. The startle response may become very strong. If the child startles with food in the mouth, choking can occur.
Some medications affect the sense of taste.
Taste can seem very strong or unpleasant. The child may dislike certain foods or refuse to eat. The child hypo-reacts with a weaker response to a specific sensation than expected. Low muscle tone in the body or mouth is often accompanied by a low reaction to sensory stimulation. High levels of some seizure medications can dull the senses, making it very difficult for a child to respond appropriately to sensory input.