ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to scrutinize how online occupational therapy group training for mothers influenced their attitudes and stress levels relating to feeding their children and the eating behaviours of the children. The secondary purpose of the study is to evaluate the satisfaction of the participants of this program. Twenty-nine mothers of children aged 3-6 years, experiencing feeding issues, were randomly allocated to either an intervention or control group. BACKGROUND: Feeding problems including selective eating, loss of appetite, and mealtime behaviour problems are prevalent during childhood. Parents play a fundamental role in acquiring knowledge about feeding. Problems in the feeding process may lead to parental stress, feelings of despair, and incorrect attitudes. RESULTS: The mothers in the research group participated in the 4-week training. Results indicated positive effects on both maternal attitudes and their children's eating behaviours (p < 0.05). No significant change was found in mothers' state and trait anxiety levels (p > 0.05). Participants were asked to score their satisfaction level with the program between 1 and 10, and the average of the scores was 9.78 ± 0.42. CONCLUSION: This study shows that online group education for mothers can support existing treatments and guide clinicians working with children with feeding problems.
Subject(s)
Mothers , Occupational Therapy , Humans , Female , Mothers/psychology , Mothers/education , Child, Preschool , Child , Male , Adult , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/psychology , Psychotherapy, Group/methods , Stress, Psychological , Feeding and Eating Disorders/psychology , Mother-Child Relations , Internet-Based InterventionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Feeding problems in children with autism jeopardize the well-being of both children with autism and their families. Mixed findings were reported from previous interventions, which were mostly evaluated by single subject research design (SSRD) studies. Moreover, feasibility assessment and social validity measurement were unaddressed by these SSRD studies. To fill this substantial knowledge gap, the present review systematically summarized and evaluated feeding interventions implemented in children with autism, which were assessed by studies employing group designs. METHOD: An extensive literature search in eight established online databases was conducted, and a total of 17 eligible studies published in 2009-2021 were included for further analysis. A descriptive account of the features of the investigations is provided, including assessment of study quality. RESULTS: A total of 449 children with autism and 203 parents/caregivers participated in the included studies. The multiple use of five strategic intervention components were highlighted in this review, including nutrition education/consultations, environmental modifications, sensory exposure, cognitive components, and behaviour interventions. The reviewed interventions showed a preliminarily positive effect for modifying feeding problems in children with autism. Furthermore, the evaluation based on the RE-AIM framework (reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) demonstrated that an interdisciplinary multi-component intervention strategy may achieve high effectiveness and feasibility in improving feeding problems in a wide range of children with autism. CONCLUSIONS: This review found that interventions achieved and maintained a positive effect on modification of feeding problems in groups of children with autism. Information and gaps identified and summarized in the implementation process may assist both researchers and stakeholders to further support these vulnerable children.
Subject(s)
Autistic Disorder , Humans , Child , Autistic Disorder/therapy , Autistic Disorder/psychology , Research Design , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/etiology , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Child, PreschoolABSTRACT
This concise review summarizes the literature on noncontingent reinforcement in the treatment of pediatric feeding disorder from 2018 to 2022. We reviewed 15 published behavior-analytic feeding studies to identify how often the term noncontingent reinforcement is used, what form of noncontingent reinforcement is delivered, and what the effects of noncontingent reinforcement are on behavior when it is included in treatment. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Subject(s)
Behavior Therapy , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood , Reinforcement, Psychology , Humans , Child , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/psychology , Behavior Therapy/methods , Child, PreschoolABSTRACT
It has been estimated that between 25% and 40% of healthy children show symptoms of feeding difficulties (FDs) during their growth and development; many times, these are not adequately diagnosed. The objective of this study was to conduct a narrative review that collected the available information on feeding difficulties. Assessment and management algorithms were developed based on the bibliographic evidence. Most feeding problems in young children (feeding selectivity, loss of appetite, fear of feeding) are often concurrent, and a clinical risk assessment is necessary to plan an individualized intervention. Having standardized definitions and common terms to address these difficulties in an appropriate and multidisciplinary manner is one of the ways to optimize their treatment. The involvement of different health care providers and parents is critical to address feeding difficulties.
Se estima que entre el 25 % y el 40 % de los niños sanos presentan algún síntoma de dificultad alimentaria (DA) durante su crecimiento y desarrollo, y muchas veces no son adecuadamente diagnosticadas. El propósito de este trabajo consistió en realizar una revisión narrativa que reuniera la información disponible sobre las dificultades alimentarias. Se desarrollaron algoritmos de evaluación y abordaje a partir de la evidencia en la literatura. La mayoría de los problemas de alimentación en los niños pequeños (selectividad alimentaria, falta de apetito, miedo a la alimentación) a menudo coexisten y es necesario evaluar el riesgo clínico para planificar una intervención individualizada. Contar con definiciones estandarizadas y terminología común para abordar estas dificultades de manera adecuada y multidisciplinaria es uno de los caminos para optimizar su tratamiento. Involucrar a los diferentes profesionales de la salud y a los padres es fundamental para abordar las dificultades alimentarias.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood , Humans , Child , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/diagnosis , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/etiology , Risk Assessment , Algorithms , Child, PreschoolABSTRACT
Children with pediatric feeding disorder may refuse to consume an adequate variety and/or volume of food to maintain expected growth. They can consume food but may actively or passively refuse, resulting in escape or avoidance of eating. Behavioral interventions like positive reinforcement with escape extinction can increase consumption. However, sometimes these interventions are insufficient, especially in treating passive refusal. In these cases, physical guidance may be used to prompt an open mouth to deposit food. Research indicates open-mouth prompts are effective and rated as acceptable. This study replicated an existing physical guidance procedure, the finger prompt, and compared its efficacy and acceptability with that of a spoon prompt. This study extended research by defining and measuring passive refusal as a dependent variable and assessing social validity among different stakeholders and times. Both prompts were effective in treating food refusal, and caregivers rated the finger prompt as more preferred.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood , Feeding and Eating Disorders , Child , Humans , Extinction, Psychological , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Reinforcement, Psychology , Behavior Therapy/methods , Feeding BehaviorABSTRACT
Na criança com Trissomia do 21 a dificuldade alimentar pode estar presente. Alguns sinais são as alterações na habilidade motora-oral, no processamento sensorial, tempo elevado das refeições, recusa alimentar prolongada e falta de autonomia. Ainda pouco se discute sobre as dificuldades alimentares e seu processo terapêutico nesta população. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a avaliação e intervenção fonoaudiológica e da terapia ocupacional na dificuldade alimentar de uma criança com Trissomia do 21 com o uso de estratégias de alimentação responsiva e integrativa. Criança 3 anos e 2 meses, sexo masculino. Avaliação fonoaudiológica demonstrou criança com distúrbio alimentar pediátrico, caracterizado por atraso na habilidade motora-oral, baixa percepção intraoral e comportamento alimentar altamente seletivo. Na avaliação da terapia ocupacional verificou-se perfil sensorial alterado. Na fonoterapia foram trabalhados aspectos como a percepção do alimento, ritmo e o tempo de alimentação. Na terapia ocupacional, o objetivo foi adequar nível de alerta, favorecer a independência e o desenvolvimento psicomotor. Após a intervenção, a reavaliação fonoaudiológica demonstrou que houve ampliação do cardápio, melhora da percepção, da habilidade motora intraoral, aceitação de diferentes utensílios e modos de apresentação do alimento, autonomia e prazer nas refeições. A reavaliação da terapia ocupacional mostrou um nível de alerta e atenção mais adequado, uso das mãos e dedos de maneira mais funcional para se alimentar. Foram observadas evoluções positivas em relação à intervenção fonoaudiológica e da terapia ocupacional na dificuldade alimentar de uma criança com Trissomia do 21 com o uso de estratégias de alimentação responsiva e integrativa. (AU)
In children with Trisomy 21 feeding difficulty can be observed, such as changes in oral motor skills, sensory processing, longer mealtimes, food refusal, lack of autonomy and others. However, there is little discussion about feeding difficulties and rehabilitation process in this population. This study aimed to describe speech-language and occupational therapy assessment and intervention in feeding difficulties in a 3-year and 2-month-old male child with a diagnosis of Trisomy 21. Speech-language pathology assessment found that the child had feeding difficulties, delay in oral motor skills, low intraoral perception and acceptance, while the occupational therapy assessment showed an altered sensory profile. The speech-language pathology sessions included aspects such as food perception, rhythm and feeding time. In turn, occupational therapy sessions aimed to adjust the alertness level, promote independence and psychomotor development. After the intervention, the speech-language pathology reassessment showed that there was an expansion of the menu for the ingestion, improvement in perception and intraoral motor skills, acceptance of different utensils and food presentation modes, autonomy and pleasure in meals. The reassessment of occupational therapy showed a better level of alertness and attention, more functional use of hands and fingers to eat. Therefore, a positive progress was observed in the feeding difficulty of a child with Trisomy 21 after a speech-language pathology and occupational therapy intervention with the use of responsive and integrative feeding strategies. (AU)
Niños con Trisomía 21, pueden presentar dificultades de alimentación. Algunos signos son cambios en las habilidades motrices orales, procesamiento sensorial, tiempos prolongados de comida, rechazo prolongado de alimentos y falta de autonomía. Hay poca discusión sobre las dificultades de alimentación y su proceso terapéutico en esta población. El objetivo deste estudio fue describir la evaluación e intervención fonoaudiológica y de terapia ocupacional en la dificultad de alimentación de un niño con Trisomía 21 utilizando estrategias de alimentación receptiva e integradora. Niño de 3 años y 2 meses. La evaluación fonoaudiológica mostró un trastorno alimentario pediátrico, caracterizado por un retraso en las habilidades motoras orales, percepción intraoral baja y comportamiento alimentario altamente selectivo. En la evaluación de terapia ocupacional se observó un perfil sensorial alterado. En fonoaudiología se trabajaron aspectos como la percepción de alimentos, ritmo y tiempo de alimentación. En terapia ocupacional, el objetivo fue ajustar el nivel de alerta, favoreciendo la independencia y desarrollo psicomotor. Después de la intervención, la reevaluación fonoaudiológica se evidenció una ampliación del menú, mejoras en percepción, motricidad intraoral, aceptación de diferentes utensilios y formas de presentar alimentos, autonomía y placer en las comidas. La reevaluación de terapia ocupacional mostró un nivel de alerta y atención más adecuado, uso de manos y dedos de forma más funcional para alimentarse. Fueron observadas evoluciones positivas con relación a la intervención fonoaudiológica y de terapia ocupacional en la dificultad de alimentación de un niño con Trisomía 21 con el uso de estrategias de alimentación receptiva e integradora. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Child, Preschool , Down Syndrome/complications , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Evaluation of Results of Therapeutic Interventions , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/etiologyABSTRACT
Functional analysis is the primary assessment used to determine the function of inappropriate mealtime behavior in children with feeding disorders. Based on single-case experimental design studies and recent reviews, the prevalence of negative reinforcement alone in the maintenance of inappropriate mealtime behavior appears to be much greater than positive reinforcement alone. We conducted a retrospective consecutive-controlled case series to determine the generality of previous findings. Results of the epidemiological analysis support prior research in that negative reinforcement in the form of escape (44.8%), and multiple control (i.e., positive and negative reinforcement) in the forms of escape and attention (37.2%), are considerably more prevalent than positive reinforcement alone (2.5%). We discuss the relationship between functional analysis of inappropriate mealtime behavior and treatment utility. Further, we describe avenues of future research designed to advance the application of functional analysis in feeding disorders beyond inappropriate mealtime behavior.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood , Behavior Therapy/methods , Child , Extinction, Psychological , Feeding Behavior , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Humans , Meals , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Previous literature supports the use of functional analyses to prescribe treatments for children with feeding disorders (Bachmeyer et al., 2009). Nevertheless, clinicians often train caregivers to use healthy contingencies, independent of whether those contingencies are function based. However, it is unclear whether including nonfunction-based contingencies differentially affects inappropriate mealtime behavior. In the current investigation, the caregivers of 3 children with feeding disorders provided escape from bites and drinks and attention following inappropriate mealtime behavior. Results of a functional analysis showed escape from bites or drinks, but not attention, reinforced inappropriate mealtime behavior. We then tested the effects of escape extinction when the feeder either provided or withheld attention following inappropriate mealtime behavior. Inappropriate mealtime behavior decreased and acceptance increased when the feeder implemented escape extinction independent of whether they provided or withheld attention. We discuss the implications of including nonfunction-based components in the treatment of pediatric feeding disorders.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood , Behavior Therapy , Child , Extinction, Psychological , Feeding Behavior , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Humans , Meals , Reinforcement, PsychologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To cross-culturally adapt and validate the Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale (MCH-FS) into Brazilian Portuguese. METHODS: The MCH-FS, originally validated in Canada, was validated in Brazil as Escala Brasileira de Alimentação Infantil (EBAI) and developed according to the following steps: translation, production of the Brazilian Portuguese version, testing of the original and the Brazilian Portuguese versions, back-translation, analysis by experts and by the developer of the original questionnaire, and application of the final version. The EBAI was applied to 242 parents/caregivers responsible for feeding children from 6 months to 6 years and 11 months of age between February and May 2018, with 174 subjects in the control group and 68 ones in the case group. The psychometric properties evaluated were validity and reliability. RESULTS: In the case group, 79% of children were reported to have feeding difficulties, against 13% in the control group. The EBAI had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.79). Using the suggested cutoff point of 45, the raw score discriminated between cases and controls with a sensitivity of 79.4% and specificity of 86.8% (area under the ROC curve=0.87). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in the validation process of the EBAI demonstrate that the questionnaire has adequate psychometric properties and, thus, can be used to identify feeding difficulties in Brazilian children from 6 months to 6 years and 11 months of age.
Subject(s)
Feeding Behavior/psychology , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/diagnosis , Hospitals, Pediatric/standards , Psychometrics/methods , Adult , Brazil/epidemiology , Canada , Caregivers/statistics & numerical data , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Cross-Sectional Studies , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/ethnology , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Parents/education , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Surveys and Questionnaires/statistics & numerical data , TranslationsABSTRACT
This article reviews behavioral treatments of pediatric feeding disorders using physical guidance procedures as an open-mouth prompt (i.e., jaw prompt, finger prompt, Nuk prompt, side deposit) to increase food acceptance. We identified 9 articles containing 35 systematic evaluations. We coded participant and study characteristics and assessed the experimental rigor, quality, and outcomes of each evaluation. Of the high-quality research present, the finger prompt variation and side deposit reliably increased acceptance. We found mixed results on the efficacy of the jaw prompt, although it was the most widely researched procedure. Further, authors reported interobserver agreement for 100% of the participants, procedural integrity for 60%, social validity for 80%, fading for 5%, and follow-up for 55%. Based on the invasive nature of physical guidance, we provide recommendations for researchers and clinicians to increase the quality of their treatment evaluations. We discuss limitations, implications for practice, and future research.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood , Feeding and Eating Disorders , Behavior Therapy , Child , Feeding Behavior , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Humans , MouthABSTRACT
Children with feeding disorders might pack or expel food when they lack the oral-motor skills, the motivation, or both, to swallow. Bolus placement directly on the tongue with a Nuk (e.g., Milnes et al., 2019) or flipped spoon (e.g., Sharp et al., 2010) is a treatment that researchers generally implement after such behavior emerges (e.g., Girolami et al., 2007). However, Wilkins et al. (2014) tested the relative efficacy of Nuk presentation and upright-spoon presentation during initial treatment of pediatric feeding disorders. In the current study, we compared the effects of (a) upright-spoon presentation; (b) Nuk presentation; and (c) flipped-spoon presentation on two product measures of swallowing: 15- and 30-s mouth clean, and expulsion during the initial treatment of feeding disorders with 5 children. We also monitored lip closure during bite presentation and following bolus placement. Nuk presentation produced the highest levels of mouth clean and the lowest rates of expels relative to upright-spoon presentation and flipped-spoon presentation. We discuss potential reasons why modified-bolus-placement methods improved feeding behavior and how measures of oral-motor skills might predict its necessity during initial treatment.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood , Feeding and Eating Disorders , Child , Feeding Behavior , Feeding and Eating Disorders/therapy , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Humans , Motivation , MouthABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Feeding dysfunction is common in children. Efficient processes to identify and treat feeding dysfunction are not commonly known or used among healthcare practitioners. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a survey tool to assess current practice procedures used by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) in identifying, diagnosing, and treating feeding dysfunction in children 0-18 years of age. METHODS: A survey was developed and distributed to gather information on RDN practice procedures, prevalence of pediatric feeding dysfunction, identification of pediatric feeding dysfunction, and method of treatment used to address pediatric feeding dysfunction. Emails were sent to 4449 RDNs in United States. All participants were classified by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) as clinical dietitians. Distribution and frequency of survey responses were assessed, and in the case of qualitative questions, were categorized according to themes identified. RESULTS: Responses of RDNs from 41 states completed 341 total surveys, 179 surveys were included in data analysis. Eighty percent of participants do not use a specific screening tool to identify feeding dysfunction. Results concerning feeding therapy strategies and terms used by RDNs to describe feeding dysfunction were highly varied or lacking. Increased inclusion of RDNs on interdisciplinary teams was indicated by 80% of participants. The majority of participants indicated they refer patients with feeding dysfunction to other practitioners instead of providing feeding therapy themselves. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized screening, diagnostic, and treatment protocols regarding feeding dysfunction are needed to provide consistent and comprehensive care for the pediatric population. Use of these protocols among RDNs would enable them to improve feeding abilities in more patients earlier in individual child development.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/diagnosis , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Nutritionists , Child , Child, Preschool , Delivery of Health Care , Food Fussiness , Humans , Infant , Surveys and Questionnaires , United StatesABSTRACT
We systematically replicated Bachmeyer et al. (2009) by examining extinction procedures matched to each function, individually and in combination, to treat the food or liquid refusal of 4 children diagnosed with a feeding disorder whose inappropriate mealtime behavior was maintained by multiple functions (i.e., escape and attention). Previous research suggests that adding differential reinforcement to extinction procedures may result in better treatment outcomes. Therefore, we added differential reinforcement to extinction procedures matched to each function. Differential reinforcement and extinction matched only to escape or attention resulted in low rates of inappropriate mealtime behavior and high, stable levels of acceptance for only 1 child. Consistent with Bachmeyer et al., inappropriate mealtime behavior decreased, and acceptance increased for the remaining 3 children only after we matched differential reinforcement and extinction procedures to both escape and attention.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood , Behavior Therapy , Child , Extinction, Psychological , Feeding Behavior , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Humans , Meals , Reinforcement, PsychologyABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective: To cross-culturally adapt and validate the Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale (MCH-FS) into Brazilian Portuguese. Methods: The MCH-FS, originally validated in Canada, was validated in Brazil as Escala Brasileira de Alimentação Infantil (EBAI) and developed according to the following steps: translation, production of the Brazilian Portuguese version, testing of the original and the Brazilian Portuguese versions, back-translation, analysis by experts and by the developer of the original questionnaire, and application of the final version. The EBAI was applied to 242 parents/caregivers responsible for feeding children from 6 months to 6 years and 11 months of age between February and May 2018, with 174 subjects in the control group and 68 ones in the case group. The psychometric properties evaluated were validity and reliability. Results: In the case group, 79% of children were reported to have feeding difficulties, against 13% in the control group. The EBAI had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.79). Using the suggested cutoff point of 45, the raw score discriminated between cases and controls with a sensitivity of 79.4% and specificity of 86.8% (area under the ROC curve=0.87). Conclusions: The results obtained in the validation process of the EBAI demonstrate that the questionnaire has adequate psychometric properties and, thus, can be used to identify feeding difficulties in Brazilian children from 6 months to 6 years and 11 months of age.
RESUMO Objetivo: Realizar a adaptação transcultural e a validação da escala Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale (MCH-FS) para a língua portuguesa falada no Brasil. Métodos: A MCH-FS, originalmente validada no Canadá, foi validada no Brasil como Escala Brasileira de Alimentação Infantil (EBAI) e desenvolvida a partir das seguintes etapas: tradução, montagem da versão em português brasileiro, teste da versão em inglês e da versão em português brasileiro, retrotradução, análise por experts e autora do questionário original e aplicação da versão final em estudo. A EBAI foi aplicada em 242 pais/cuidadores responsáveis pela alimentação de crianças de seis meses a seis anos e 11 meses de idade no período de fevereiro a maio de 2018, sendo 174 no grupo controle e 68 no grupo dos casos. As propriedades psicométricas avaliadas foram validade e confiabilidade. Resultados: No grupo dos casos, 79% dos pais/cuidadores relataram dificuldades alimentares, e no grupo controle, 13%. A EBAI apresentou boa consistência interna (alfa de Cronbach=0,79). Utilizando-se o ponto de corte sugerido de 45, o escore bruto (raw score) diferenciou casos de controles com sensibilidade de 79,4% e especificidade de 86,8% (área sob a curva ROC=0,87). Conclusões: Os resultados obtidos na validação da EBAI evidenciaram medidas psicométricas adequadas. Portanto, a escala pode ser utilizada na identificação de dificuldades alimentares em crianças brasileiras de seis meses a seis anos e 11 meses idade.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adult , Psychometrics/methods , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/diagnosis , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Hospitals, Pediatric/standards , Parents/education , Translations , Brazil/epidemiology , Canada , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Cross-Sectional Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires/statistics & numerical data , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Caregivers/statistics & numerical data , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/etiology , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the practices that parents use to manage feeding problems in healthy children and in children with gastrointestinal diseases. Secondly, for each of these two groups we examined the association of select child and parent variables with parental feeding practices. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional case-control study. The sample consisted of 901 children (765 healthy children of typical development and 136 children with gastrointestinal diseases), aged one to seven years. The feeding problem management practices were investigated through 23 closed-ended questions. The anthropometric and demographic data of children and the demographic data of parents were collected by administering structured set of questions to parents. RESULTS: The prevalence of parent-reported feeding problems was 30.6% for healthy children and 45.7% for children with gastrointestinal diseases. The most common practices adopted by parents of healthy children were highlighting the benefits of food (80.5%), correlating food with pleasure (71.6%) and praising (59.1%), whereas almost half of the parents were found not to accept that their children may not be hungry and insisted on trying to feed them. Statistically significant differences were noted in many parental practices between the two groups. Parents of children with gastrointestinal diseases were generally more involved in the feeding process. Verbal praising (69.1%), correlation with pleasure (79.4%), promotion of benefits (77.2%) as well as assistance during feeding (63.2%) were the most common parental practices in the gastrointestinal group. Age, birth order, being the only child and weight status were child variables that differentiated parental behavior. Parental characteristics that affected feeding practises were age, education and work status. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of feeding problems was reported by parents of both healthy children and children with gastrointestinal diseases. Beside the presence of a disease, specific child and parent variables are significantly related to parental behavior when managing feeding problems.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Parenting/psychology , Parents/psychology , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/epidemiology , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/etiology , Female , Gastrointestinal Diseases/complications , Greece/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Male , Parent-Child Relations , Prevalence , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess characteristics and outcomes of young children receiving intensive multidisciplinary intervention for chronic food refusal and feeding tube dependence. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive patients (birth to age 21 years) admitted to an intensive multidisciplinary intervention program over a 5-year period (June 2014-June 2019). Inclusion criteria required dependence on enteral feeding, inadequate oral intake, and medical stability to permit tube weaning. Treatment combined behavioral intervention and parent training with nutrition therapy, oral-motor therapy, and medical oversight. Data extraction followed a systematic protocol; outcomes included anthropometric measures, changes in oral intake, and percentage of patients fully weaned from tube feeding. RESULTS: Of 229 patients admitted during the 5-year period, 83 met the entry criteria; 81 completed intervention (98%) and provided outcome data (46 males, 35 females; age range, 10-230 months). All patients had complex medical, behavioral, and/or developmental histories with longstanding feeding problems (median duration, 33 months). At discharge, oral intake improved by 70.5%, and 27 patients (33%) completely weaned from tube feeding. Weight gain (mean, 0.39 ± 1 kg) was observed. Treatment gains continued following discharge, with 58 patients (72%) weaned from tube feeding at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the effectiveness of our intensive multidisciplinary intervention model in promoting oral intake and reducing dependence on tube feeding in young children with chronic food refusal. Further research on the generalizability of this intensive multidisciplinary intervention approach to other specialized treatment settings and/or feeding/eating disorder subtypes is warranted.
Subject(s)
Behavior Therapy/methods , Enteral Nutrition/adverse effects , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Child , Child, Preschool , Enteral Nutrition/psychology , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Parents/psychology , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Children with feeding disorders often engage in refusal behavior to escape or avoid eating. Escape extinction combined with reinforcement is a well-established intervention to treat food refusal. Physical guidance procedures (e.g., jaw prompt, finger prompt) have been shown to increase food acceptance and decrease inappropriate mealtime behavior when more commonly employed escape extinction (e.g., nonremoval of the spoon) procedures are ineffective. The finger prompt, however, has not been extensively evaluated as a treatment adjunct to target food refusal, thus necessitating further examination. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess a variation of a finger prompt procedure to treat food refusal and to assess caregivers' acceptability of the procedure. Three children age 1 to 4 years admitted to an intensive feeding disorders program and their caregivers participated. The finger prompt was effective in increasing bite acceptance across all participants and decreasing or maintaining low levels of inappropriate behavior for 2 participants. The procedure was also acceptable to all caregivers.
Subject(s)
Child Behavior Disorders , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood , Feeding and Eating Disorders , Behavior Therapy , Child , Child, Preschool , Extinction, Psychological , Feeding Behavior , Feeding and Eating Disorders/therapy , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Humans , Infant , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Food selectivity is a common problem for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; Schreck, Williams, & Smith, 2004). Behavior-analytic interventions have the most empirical support for feeding disorders (Sharp, Jaquess, Morton, & Miles, 2011). However, there are no randomized controlled trials that have evaluated its effects with a well-defined cohort of children with ASD. In the current investigation, we randomly assigned 6 young children with ASD and food selectivity to either an applied behavior analytic intervention or a wait-list control. We used a crossover randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of a multicomponent applied behavior analytic intervention on independent acceptance and mouth clean of 16 novel foods. We subsequently exposed the wait-list control group to the intervention. We also evaluated the effects of the intervention on individual participants with single-case designs. The percentage of independent acceptance and mouth clean increased for the applied behavior analytic intervention group, but not for the wait-list control group until we implemented the intervention.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder/complications , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Food Fussiness , Food Preferences , Autism Spectrum Disorder/psychology , Behavior Therapy , Child , Child, Preschool , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/etiology , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The term renewal describes the recurrence of previously extinguished behavior that occurs when the intervention context changes. Renewal has important clinical relevance as a paradigm for studying treatment relapse because context changes are necessary for generalization and maintenance of most intervention outcomes. The effects of context changes are particularly important during intervention for pediatric feeding disorders because children eat in a variety of contexts, and extinction is an empirically supported and often necessary intervention. Therefore, we used an ABA arrangement to test for renewal during intervention with 3 children diagnosed with a feeding disorder. The A phase was functional reinforcement of inappropriate mealtime behavior in a simulated home setting with the child's caregiver as feeder, B was function-based extinction in a standard clinic setting with a therapist as feeder, and the return to the A phase was function-based extinction in a simulated home setting with caregiver as feeder. Returning to Context A resulted in renewal of inappropriate mealtime behavior across children, despite the caregivers' continued implementation of function-based extinction with high levels of integrity.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/therapy , Meals/psychology , Problem Behavior/psychology , Reinforcement, Psychology , Child, Preschool , Extinction, Psychological , Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood/psychology , Generalization, Psychological , Humans , Male , RecurrenceABSTRACT
Feeding difficulties are common and significant issues for children with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Key features of autism are intrinsically linked with factors contributing to these children's feeding difficulties. Following a multidisciplinary assessment to exclude non-behavioural reasons for the feeding difficulty, there are two mainstay modalities of treatment: operant conditioning and systematic desensitisation. Currently, evidence points towards operant conditioning as the most efficacious psychotherapy. However, recent research into cognitive behavioural therapy for older children with feeding difficulties has shown promising results and will be an area to monitor in the coming years. This review outlines the causes and health impacts and evaluates current evidence supporting the available psychotherapeutic interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder experiencing feeding difficulties.