Dysphagia in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typical Development: A Comparative Study on the Symptoms and...

This study aims to comparatively examine dysphagia symptoms in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with typical development (TD), along with the impact on their families.

A total of 70 children aged 3-7 years and their parents took part in the study (35 children diagnosed with ASD and their parents, and 35 typically developing children and their parents). Swallowing disorders were assessed using the Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (PEDI-EAT-10). The impact of children's feeding and swallowing problems on their parents was measured through the Feeding/Swallowing Impact Survey (FS-IS).

According to the PEDI-EAT-10 results, abnormalities in swallowing function were identified in 20% of children diagnosed with ASD, and in 8.57% of TD children. However, no statistically significant difference was found when the PEDI-EAT-10 total scores of both groups were compared (p = 0.833). An analysis of the FS-IS subscales revealed a statistically significant difference in the 'daily activities' subscale between the parents of children with ASD and TD (p = 0.036). In contrast, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of 'worry,' 'feeding difficulties,' and total FS-IS scores (p > 0.05).

This study demonstrates that children with ASD carry a higher clinical risk for parent-reported swallowing and feeding difficulties compared to their typically developing peers, and that these problems negatively affect parents' quality of life. The findings highlight the importance of early assessment of feeding skills and behaviour as well as swallowing function, and the development of child-family-centred holistic intervention approaches to support children's functional development and improve families' daily lives.

What is already known on the subject Feeding and swallowing difficulties are more frequently observed in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) than in their typically developing (TD) peers. These difficulties include food selectivity, chewing and swallowing problems, and disruptive mealtime behaviours. While these symptoms are not core diagnostic criteria for ASD, they significantly affect the child's health and family dynamics. Previous research has mostly focused on behavioural aspects of feeding without extensively comparing clinical symptoms of dysphagia or their psychosocial impacts on caregivers. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge This study offers a comparative analysis of swallowing difficulties in children with ASD and TD children using validated tools (PEDI-EAT-10, FS-IS). It highlights that while clinical dysphagia risk is higher in children with ASD, the most significant impact observed is on caregivers' daily functioning. Importantly, it shows that even without statistically significant differences in most metrics, parents of children with ASD experience greater disruptions in everyday routines. The study also confirms that the severity of children's swallowing symptoms correlates with increased parental stress and reduced quality of life. What are the potential or actual clinical implications for this work? The findings underline the importance of early identification and intervention for feeding and swallowing difficulties in children with ASD. Paediatricians, speech-language pathologists, and interdisciplinary teams should consider both the physical and psychosocial dimensions of feeding problems. Child- and family-centred approaches are essential to address the functional impact on families. Tailoring interventions to alleviate caregiver burden and enhance daily life quality can improve outcomes for both children and their families. This study supports integrating caregiver support and education into clinical protocols for managing feeding difficulties in neurodevelopmental disorders.