Treating Food Selectivity in Adolescents and Adults with Autism: A Systematic Replication

We replicated and extended Gover et al. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities 69:53-65, (2023) by applying an intervention to improve the food selectivity of three adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum in a congregate care setting. All participants had limited diets that consisted of low-nutritional snack foods, and exhibited challenging behavior when asked to consume nonpreferred, more nutritious foods that were served in their residences. Following a comprehensive assessment, we provided synthesized reinforcers contingent on completion of participant-selected, successive food-related behaviors toward consumption. The treatment led to the three participants consuming 80%, 60%, and 100%, respectively, of their targeted foods in the absence of challenging behavior.