Eating Issues: Case Studies
08th December from 14:00 to 15:30
Reducing Food Selectivity in a Student with Autism
By Laura Duffy
Current research using repeated presentations of non-preferred foods to increase food consumption in children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder has resulted in children eating more varied and nutritionally balanced diets. The purpose of the current study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of using a repeated presentation procedure in combination with reinforcement and extinction, in increasing the acceptance of non-preferred food in a student with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Three non-preferred foods were chosen from food diaries obtained from parents prior to intervention. Using a changing criterion design, results indicated that the number of bites of non-preferred food consumed by the participant increased from 0 bites at baseline level to 12 bites of each of 3 non-preferred foods on the final day of intervention. A generalised outcome was also established for the participant.