any ideas?

My 6 year old has a habit of sucking his t-shirts, tops etc. He can make the front of his top totally wet in under 1/2 an hour. His tops are getting holes in them from the sucking. It's got to the stage that we don't let him wear tops at home to help keep him dry. Its OK for now as its summer here, but could be a problem in winter especially as he is asthmatic. He does see a speech therapist for general articulation problems and langage delay.  She has done some exercises for the muscles in the face to try stopping this problem but it has not been any help. Do you have any suggestions to help cure him of this habit? Can it be a symptom of any disorders? I have always had my concerns due to his delays in langage and social skills. A doctor did tell me not to worry - he looks at the world differently to most children and is going to be a mad-professor type, he is gifted especially in the maths area, his non-verbal iq being 158 (verbal 103).

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

I wouldn't associate this behavior with any particular disorder, though it's probably more common with children who display developmental immaturity and other developmental problems than it is with other six-year-olds. On a positive note, it's not a habit that persists as children get older, and I imagine you're going to see a change. It might be worth your while to consult with an occupational therapist for the purpose of gaining his/her perspective.