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Updated: May 20, 2026
04:23
A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
Published on: August 21, 2015
Feeding therapy for children with food refusal
Fumiyo Tamura1, Takeshi Kikutani, Reiko Machida
1The Nippon Dental University, School of Life Dentistry, Tokyo Dental Hospital, Japan. fumita@tokyo.ndu.ac.jp
Summary
Feeding therapy and desensitization effectively treat food refusal in disabled children, particularly those with hypersensitivity. This approach helps children overcome eating difficulties linked to sensory issues.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Developmental Disabilities
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Disabled children often experience complications beyond their primary condition, such as food refusal.
- Food refusal in this population can stem from various factors, impacting overall health and development.
- Understanding the specific triggers and effective interventions for food refusal is crucial for improving patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between underlying conditions and food refusal in disabled children.
- To evaluate the efficacy of feeding therapy, including desensitization, for treating food refusal.
- To identify key factors contributing to food refusal in disabled children.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 67 disabled children attending a specialized hospital were studied.
- 13 children diagnosed with food refusal received feeding therapy combined with desensitization therapy for hypersensitivity.
- Data analysis focused on correlations between food refusal, primary disease, respiratory impairment, gastroesophageal reflux, hypersensitivity, and tube feeding.
Main Results:
- Approximately 20% of the studied disabled children exhibited food refusal.
- Primary disease, respiratory impairment, and gastroesophageal reflux were not identified as causes of food refusal.
- A significant relationship was found between food refusal and hypersensitivity (p = 0.021).
- Six of seven subjects with hypersensitivity (but without dysphagia) recovered from food refusal after feeding therapy.
- Food refusal did not significantly correlate with tube feeding, though hypersensitivity and/or tube feeding may induce it.
Conclusions:
- Hypersensitivity is a significant factor contributing to food refusal in disabled children.
- Feeding therapy combined with desensitization therapy is an effective treatment for food refusal associated with hypersensitivity.
- Early intervention focusing on sensory hypersensitivity can lead to recovery from food refusal in this vulnerable population.
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