What is Pica? Pica is defined by the recurrent eating of substances that are not typically considered food, which can include items such as dirt, clay, chalk, paper, hair, and more. For a diagnosis of Pica, this behaviour must persist over a prolonged period of time. While it can occur in the general paediatric population, the prevalence is significantly higher among children with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and other developmental issues (wit