Assessment of feeding problems in children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

There is growing, but inconsistent, literature on feeding problems for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The purposes of this study were to (a) investigate the relation of feeding problems to autism severity, (b) assess the validity of parent-report questionnaires widely used to assess feeding problems in terms of their relation to systematic behavior observations, and (c) determine the relation between child feeding behavior and family mealtime environment. Thirty-eight children and their parents participated in the study. Parents completed questionnaires, and both parents and children participated in mealtime observations. Results indicated that autism severity predicted scores on a measure of feeding problems as well as the duration of negative vocalizations during meal observations. Food Frequency Questionnaires better predicted behavior during meals than the Brief Mealtime Autism Behavior Inventory. Family environment alone did not explain feeding difficulties.