Occupational Therapy for Children With Feeding Difficulties and Picky Eating Habits – A Case Study

Abstract

Feeding and eating are basic activities of daily living (B/ADL) thus it is one of the major occupation domain of occupational therapy. The role of an occupational therapist at this domain is to evaluate occupational performance and develop feeding skills that includes sensory-motor, fine motor, oral motor and processing skills. Moreover behavior pattern, habit and routine along with contextual factors during the mealtimes that facilitate feeding mechanism. Picky and fussy eating is also called choosy eating which is most common form of feeding difficulties [2] among both typically developed and delayed milestone children. The aim of case study is to promote the effectiveness of occupational therapy in picky eater children who have attained developmental milestones within typical ranges but healthy eating habits are not developed. The occupational performance of the 5 year old picky eater child was monitored through ABLLS-Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skill. Feeding issues of the child were affecting her physical and behavioral health eventually leading to struggle in functions for BADL- basic activities of daily living and social participation. It is observed that continuous occupational therapy session with individualized intervention plan, inculcate healthy eating habits and improve results at ABBLS.