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Updated: Feb 18, 2026
04:23
A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
Published on: August 21, 2015
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Laboratory Food Acceptance in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Compared With Children With Typical Development.
1Michelle A. Suarez, PhD, OTR/L, is Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy Department, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo; michelle.a.suarez@wmich.edu.
Summary
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) accepted fewer foods in a lab setting compared to typically developing children. Food acceptance was linked to age and sensory processing, not ASD severity, aiding in selectivity treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Pediatric Feeding Behavior
- Sensory Processing
Background:
- Food selectivity is common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), often reported by parents.
- Limited research exists on objective food acceptance in controlled settings for ASD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare laboratory food acceptance between children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children.
- To investigate links between food acceptance, age, sensory patterns, and ASD severity.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory-based assessment of food acceptance in children with ASD and TD.
- Analysis of relationships between food acceptance, age, sensory processing scores, and autism severity.
Main Results:
- Children with ASD accepted significantly fewer foods than TD children in a laboratory setting.
- Food acceptance correlated with age but not autism severity in children with ASD.
- Sensory processing scores were associated with food acceptance across both groups.
Conclusions:
- Objective laboratory measures reveal lower food acceptance in children with ASD compared to TD peers.
- Sensory processing and age are significant factors influencing food acceptance in children.
- Findings can inform evaluations and interventions for pediatric food selectivity.
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