There may be some underlying physical issues that need to be addressed, including digestive discomfort and food sensitivities. One approach to feeding issues is to work with a behavior therapist on the specific behaviors the child displays, rewarding them for trying new foods, branching out their diets, or changing rituals around eating.
#PICA AND AUTISM IN TODDLERS HOW TO#
How to Manage Feeding Problems in an Autistic Child Children with autism are at higher risk for being unable to communicate to their parents or caregivers, and this can compound food and eating issues. Young children will not have the communication skills to express what they dislike about a food or how it makes them feel. Many children on the autism spectrum have digestive discomfort, which can manifest as food avoidance or selectivity, temper tantrums related to food or meals, selecting only certain safe foods, or creating rituals around how the food is consumed. Other children may refuse to stop eating baby food or even be unable to transition away from bottle feeding. As neurotypical peers will slowly add new foods to their diets, some children with autism may focus on one specific type of food or texture of food, like pasta or chicken nuggets. Over 14% ate until they were overstuffed with food, compared to 3.5% of their peers.įeeding problems will become very apparent as children age. The study also found that children with autism were more likely to have food allergies than neurotypical children.Ĭhildren with autism were found to consume less: In one study, a group of 79 children with autism were compared to a control group of nearly 13,000 neurotypical children.Īt 54 months (4.5 years old), without treatment, a child’s diet could become restricted to the point of being completely different from the rest of the family’s diets. Parents may notice some subtle changes when the child is about 1 year old, and these become more pronounced as they age.Įarly studies on children with autism found that diets could become very restricted by the time a child reached 24 months, or 2 years old. Research on Feeding Problems in Children With Autismįood aversions, preferences, and feeding problems appear around the time many children are diagnosed with autism. The study suggested that feeding problems are so common among autistic children, compared to neurotypical children, that these issues could become one of the diagnostic criteria of ASD. This rate was 15 times higher than the rate of eating- and food-related issues among their neurotypical peers. Research conducted at Penn State College of Medicine and published in 2019 found that 70% of children with autism had atypical eating behaviors, like those listed above. Unusual eating habits can involve:Įating non-food items like rocks or dirt (PICA). Most symptoms associated with autism involve trouble with verbal and nonverbal communication, isolation and trouble socializing, and cognition issues.Īnother common symptom for many people with autism is difficulty with food and eating.
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is the leading treatment to manage symptoms of autism.įeeding Problems Prevalent Among Children With Autism If a specialist confirms the diagnosis, they can help you find a behavior therapist to help your child manage the symptoms of autism and improve behaviors. They can provide information on autism and a referral to a specialist if autism is suspected. If you notice changes in your child like reduced mobility, losing communication skills, less interest in playing with you, and more focus on a specific toy or type of play, talk to your pediatrician. Children can be reliably diagnosed with autism around 2 years old. Work with a nutritional therapist or physician to effectively address these underlying issues.Īutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that manifests in a range of changes in communication, learning, and socializing, starting between 6 months and 4 years old. In therapy, your child can learn new behaviors related to food, how to try new foods, and how to avoid non-food items like dirt.ĭigestive problems may also be part of your child’s feeding problems.
If your child has feeding problems, a behavior therapist can work on these issues with your child. Children with autism commonly have feeding problems, such as food avoidance, selectivity, or “pocketing” food rather than chewing and swallowing it.
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