Use of an Exit Criterion for a Clinical Paediatric Feeding Case in-Home

Abstract

There are well-established empirically-supported treatments for paediatric feeding disorders (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder; ARFID); however, more research is needed on their sole use, outside of specialised multidisciplinary feeding hospitals, and with older ages. Additionally, there is little research on the use of an exit criterion treatment. An 11-year-old male participated in a 2-week in-home programme. Treatment was solely behaviour-analytic and consisted of demand fading, choice, differential attention, contingent access, and exit criterion. We conducted repeated edible preference assessments and used a changing criterion single-case experimental design across three food variety groups of decreasing preference. Variety reached 79 foods across food groups and 100% of goals were met. Caregivers reported high social acceptability and at 2-year follow-up the problem still resolved.