Features of feeding difficulty in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) commonly report concerns regarding feeding difficulties and poor nutrition. Feeding difficulties, in the form of undesirable mealtime behaviours and/or skill deficits, can cause parental concern and impact on family dynamics. Poor nutrition can have an impact on development and health outcomes. The purpose of this paper was to review recent research regarding feeding difficulties in children with ASD, in order to describe: (1) the most frequently reported undesirable mealtime behaviours and skill deficits; and (2) dietary intake and weight patterns as markers of nutrition. While the ASD population is a somewhat heterogeneous group, this literature review of 44 research studies identified a number of common issues for these children. Restricted dietary variety, food neophobia, food refusal, limiting diet based on texture, and a propensity towards being overweight were frequently reported. Gaining a better understanding of the common features of feeding difficulties experienced by children with ASD will assist in directing intervention studies. Findings from such studies have the potential to enhance developmental and nutritional outcomes for this group. Well-designed longitudinal research would be valuable in monitoring the impact of feeding difficulties for these children as they age.

Efficacy of interventions to improve feeding difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The nature of feeding difficulties in children with ASD has been described as including extreme food neophobia, restricted dietary variety, food selectivity by texture and a propensity towards being overweight (Marshall et al . ).…”

Eating habits and dietary patterns in children with autism

“…Rigid and repetitive dietary patterns are frequently observed in children with autism, and they may be responsible for the nutrient imbalance; for example, the preference for the same food has been reported, limiting the range of foods consumed and subsequently leading to nutrient deficiencies in the long term [1][2][3][4]. Otherwise, children with autism are used to choose the same food in each meal and to eat it using the same piece of cutlery; moreover, they may require the same presentation of the food into the dish or they may prefer a liquid form or a soft consistency, as puree or fruit juice [5].…”

Concept of Pediatric Feeding Problems From the Parent Perspective

“…Feeding problems have been defi ned from viewpoints of the healthcare provider (APA, 2013b;Marshall et al, 2014), but not from the viewpoint of the parents who manage feeding day-to-day. Despite some literature in which healthcare professionals report that parents express anxiety about feeding their child (Batchelor, 2008;Sleigh, 2005), there have been no efforts to gather data directly from parents in defi ning the problem.…”