This study compared a behavioral feeding intervention with and without pre-meal sensory integration therapy (SIT) in two boys with autism spectrum disorder and severe food selectivity. For both participants, child bite and drink consumption and total intake increased to similar levels with corresponding decreases in inappropriate mealtime behavior (IMB) in both conditions. The SIT condition was then discontinued and both participants continued to exhibit high levels of bite and drink consumption with corresponding low levels of IMB during a non-SIT phase. Caregivers of both participants were then trained in the behavioral feeding intervention. Follow-up data were collected for one participant for two months following intervention and showed maintenance of treatment gains over time. Limitations of the current study and directions for future research comparing the effects of behavioral feeding interventions with and without SIT are discussed.

No abstract

Food refusal is a severe feeding problem in which children refuse to eat all or most foods, which can be treated effectively using multicomponent intervention packages. This study compared two multicomponent treatment packages on food and drink consumption, inappropriate mealtime behavior, and total intake in a child with food refusal. Bite and drink consumption was consistently higher; inappropriate mealtime behavior was consistently lower; and total intake was greater when differential reinforcement of alternative behavior and escape extinction treatment were implemented compared to response cost, escape extinction, and differential reinforcement of alternative behavior.