Treatment of Food Selectivity in an Adult With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Food selectivity is common among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Left untreated, food selectivity may continue into adulthood, leading to social and nutritional deficits. Although effective treatments have been identified for young children and the school-aged population, these treatments may not be feasible with adults. As such, effective treatments for adults with ASD need to be identified. In this study, the participant was a 26-year-old male with ASD and a history of food selectivity. We compared two treatments that used differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors-one using positive reinforcement and the other negative reinforcement-to increase acceptance of novel fruits and vegetables. Both treatments resulted in increases in the acceptance of grapes and red bell peppers. When given the choice, the participant preferred the positive reinforcement contingency. Additionally, his food acceptance occurred in the presence of novel foods (e.g., carrots and lettuce) and settings. This study represents one of the only studies examining the treatment of food selectivity in adults with ASD.