Empirically supported treatments for feeding difficulties in young children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Developmental Psychology
• Behavioral Therapy

Background:

• Severe pediatric feeding problems affect numerous children and their families, causing significant distress.
• Existing research on treatment outcomes for these children is notably scarce.
• Effective interventions are crucial for improving quality of life and developmental trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive literature review on treatment studies for children with severe feeding issues.
• To identify and summarize empirically supported treatments for children who can eat orally.
• To outline interventions for reintroducing oral feeding in children dependent on non-oral routes like gastrostomy tubes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across multiple databases (e.g., PubMed, PsycINFO).
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies reporting treatment outcomes for pediatric feeding disorders.
• Categorization of interventions based on oral feeding status (oral feeders vs. non-oral feeders).

Main Results:

• The review identified a limited but growing body of literature on treatment efficacy.
• Empirically supported treatments for orally feeding children include behavioral interventions and specialized feeding therapies.
• Interventions for reintroducing oral feeding show promise, particularly those involving gradual desensitization and positive reinforcement.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for more rigorous research on treatment effectiveness for pediatric feeding disorders.
• A combination of behavioral and therapeutic approaches appears most effective for children with severe feeding issues.
• Successful reintroduction of oral feeding is achievable with tailored, evidence-based interventions.