Co-occurring behavioral difficulties in children with severe feeding problems: A descriptive study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Feeding problems in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are linked to behavioral difficulties.
• The extent of behavioral issues outside mealtimes in children with feeding problems but without ASD is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe behavioral difficulties co-occurring with severe food refusal/selectivity in children.
• To identify predictors of behavioral difficulties outside the meal context.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 54 patients with severe feeding problems.
• Data collected on caregiver coaching and behavioral interventions outside mealtimes.
• Examined age, developmental delay/ASD, and feeding problem type as predictors.

Main Results:

• About half of the children received caregiver coaching or behavioral intervention.
• Younger age at admission predicted individual caregiver coaching.
• Developmental delay/ASD, age, and feeding problem type did not predict individualized treatment.

Conclusions:

• Difficult caregiver-child interactions outside mealtimes occur in some children with severe feeding difficulties.
• These behavioral associations may extend beyond children diagnosed with ASD.