ERIC Number: EJ1197064
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Dec
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-8151
EISSN: N/A
Prevalence of Feeding Problems in Young Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Chart Review Study
Seiverling, Laura; Towle, Patricia; Hendy, Helen M.; Pantelides, Joanna
Journal of Early Intervention, v40 n4 p335-346 Dec 2018
Feeding problems are known to be an important clinical issue for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the majority of studies on this topic have been carried out on children preschool age and older. It is important to understand whether these difficulties begin prior to age 3 years, as well as what parameters are important to study for both assessment and intervention. The present study used an early intervention chart abstraction method to examine prevalence of feeding problems in children below 3 years of age with ASD compared with those evaluated for non-ASD language delays (LD). Prevalence of feeding problems detected by speech therapists and psychologists was higher for the ASD group than for the comparison group, with the ASD group showing more food selectivity by texture (23.1% vs. 7.1%), more food selectivity by type (24.4% vs. 11.8%), more new food refusal (10.3% vs. 0%), and more food overstuffing (14.1% vs. 3.5%). We also examined the relationship between the total number of four feeding problems and child characteristics/demographics (ASD or LD diagnosis, gender, age of first evaluation, neighborhood income). Significantly more feeding problems were seen for children with ASD. As well, feeding problems were more prevalent for males. Associations between feeding problems and the other variables, as well as interactions, were not significant.
Descriptors: Incidence, Eating Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Autism, Developmental Disabilities, Young Children, Gender Differences, Early Intervention, Comparative Analysis
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Health Resources and Services Administration (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New York
Grant or Contract Numbers: T73MC04320