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You are not the only one experiencing this.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EAutistic individuals (because this is not just an issue for children) exhibit higher rates of food refusal, and a more limited food repertoire, when compared to typically developing individuals (Bandini et al, 2010).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EExamples? Sure.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EAcross my clients, I regularly see issues with:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERigidity around meals\u003C\/b\u003E (where to sit at the table, what plate to eat off, which spoon to use, must have the tablet in order to eat)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFood refusal challenging behavior\u003C\/b\u003E (throwing plates, flinging cups to the floor, spitting food out, tantrums, pouring liquids out onto the floor)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHighly selective food intake\u003C\/b\u003E (daily diet consists of less than 10 foods, likes chicken nuggets but only from a specific fast food place, will only take specific liquid from a specific sippy cup or bottle)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003ETo define the term, a picky eater can be described as regularly refusing foods, or consistently only eating the same foods with little to no variation permitted.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EMany parents of toddlers deal with a picky eating phase at some point or another, and often the child outgrows it.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003ESo, what is the critical determining factor when it comes to Autism that tips the scale from someone who is just \"picky\" to a serious health problem\/eating disorder and concern? Usually, it is a combination of variables that must be examined and weighed:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EHow old is the individual? If out of the toddler phase, how frequently is this issue happening (weekly? daily? or only at holiday meals?)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EDoes food refusal occur with challenging or aggressive behavior?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EIs this impacting school\/daycare, or the ability to go into community locations?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EWill the individual skip several consecutive meals (refuse to eat across more than one day)?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EIs this impacting the individual's weight, organs, toileting\/digestion, skin, hair, or nutrition? Is your doctor concerned?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EThe key factor for seeking out intervention for this issue is when the food selectivity is causing harm to the individual. When any specific behavior impacts the health\/body of the person exhibiting it, that is clinically referred to as a \"self-injurious\" behavior. Self-injurious behaviors should not be ignored, and often require intervention and treatment.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003ESo w\u003Cspan\u003Ehat to do?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;It may be helpful to reframe the way we view picky eaters. Sometimes families can view this behavior as their child willfully choosing to make meals a dreadful adventure. Choosing to be difficult and fling plates across the room in order to cause chaos. However, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.iloveaba.com\/2012\/02\/everyday-fba.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Echallenging behaviors often occur for complex or multifaceted reasons\u003C\/a\u003E. Some Autistics use the term \"sensory eater\" and not \"picky eater\" to describe this issue, and explain it like this:\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003EPicky eaters don’t like a variety of foods, much like the sensory eater. However, when picky eaters try new foods, it doesn’t cause a sensory overload....\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003EThere is a sensitivity to textures, where children can only handle one texture, such as smooth, pureed foods. In this case, they might be able to eat yogurt, however, hand them a bag of chips or a slice of turkey and they immediately begin to gag\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E (\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/researchautism.org\/its-not-picky-eating-5-strategies-for-sensory-food-sensitivities\/\" style=\"background-color: white;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewww.researchautism.org\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E).\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: times;\"\u003EIf a specific food texture, smell, sight, or tactile experience is causing significant distress, if there are tooth or gum issues making eating painful or uncomfortable, if the individual has trouble swallowing, or if unknown allergies are present, making digestion painful or uncomfortable, doesn't it make sense for the individual to refuse a food (or eventually, any food that looks like THAT food) or exhibit excessive selectivity? Now, imagine the individual has no means to communicate how food makes them feel. Doesn't it make sense that they may cry, spit, hit or punch, or fling a plate onto the floor?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EWhen seeking out Feeding Intervention (which is a clinical specialty), it is important to first obtain medical rule out. This means first speaking with your doctor to discuss the issue, and see if the individual's health has been impacted. The doctor may also be able to make a referral to a qualified specialist.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003ENot every professional will be trained in feeding interventions, so this isn't as simple as just asking the current therapist to also target feeding. I see families do that a lot, without also asking about the therapist's qualifications to address this issue.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EIt probably doesn't need to be said, but feeding challenges can have serious health complications and you don't want to gamble on unproven treatments, untrained professionals, or questionable practices. Not only could they harm your child, they could worsen\/ingrain the problem even further.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003ESLPs, BCBAs, OTs, Healthcare professionals, and Multi-Disciplinary clinics or facilities, can all incorporate feeding intervention into therapy goals. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.choa.org\/medical-services\/gastroenterology\/feeding-and-swallowing\/multidisciplinary-feeding-program\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta\u003C\/a\u003E recommends the following step-by-step process for initiating feeding intervention\/feeding therapy:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EMedical Screening\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EBehavioral Evaluation\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003ENutrition Assessment\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EOral-Motor Skills Assessment\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ERemember, before seeking out therapy or treatment talk to your doctor \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cb\u003Efirst\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E. Also, any feeding intervention that occurs on-site will need a caregiver training portion where the parents are taught how to implement the procedure at home\/in the community.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E*Further Reading:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thinkingautismguide.com\/2010\/07\/autism-feeding-issues-and-picky-eaters.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; font-family: times;\"\u003EAutism Feeding Issues\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EKinnaird, E., Norton, C., Pimblett, C., Stewart, C., \u0026amp; Tchanturia, K. (2019). Eating as an autistic adult: An exploratory qualitative study.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003EBandini LG, Anderson SE, Curtin C, Cermak S, Evans EW, Scampini R, Maslin M, Must A. (2010). Food selectivity in children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: times;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/marybarbera.com\/autism-picky-eating-feeding-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAutism \u0026amp; Picky Eating\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.autismdietitian.com\/blog\/picky-eating-problem-feeding\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; font-family: times;\"\u003EProblem Eating\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/wmuace.com\/videos\/pediatric-feeding\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; font-family: times;\"\u003EAssessment \u0026amp; Treatment of Pediatric Feeding Disorders\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2831447\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: black; font-family: times;\"\u003EFeeding Problems in Children with Autism\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thelily.com\/your-eating-disorder-could-be-a-sign-of-neurodivergence-it-was-for-me\/?fbclid=IwAR3UDGUj5sVyJW1bwSOV0NTyR0HU0oe369U1vd7c6TinDV39QT4_RF-O2hA\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEating Disorders Can be a Sign of NeuroDivergence\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003E\u003Ca href=www.iloveaba.com\u003EI Love ABA\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.iloveaba.com\/feeds\/6518015104504071214\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.iloveaba.com\/2021\/11\/picky-or-problem.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/910085778879504657\/posts\/default\/6518015104504071214"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/910085778879504657\/posts\/default\/6518015104504071214"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.iloveaba.com\/2021\/11\/picky-or-problem.html","title":"Picky or Problem?"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Tameika Meadows, BCBA, Blog Author"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/17008810597417201971"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgKRu-32Kiv0YjGfVQQ0isn09_Q0rxpVUSLk206uq3faX3NIRWl2Ysmtq6cdZ5IPewos6C9xm3Fn_05hk7DBTKU0BOOraF03cyPTHWfXXjm5RyHAEAXnZ3oiK8cEXrAcg\/s220\/20161223_173533-1.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-ovaeNdwrdT8\/YYE70OespiI\/AAAAAAAAHic\/GBus4P7akCEoaCsTQoHdeI3e33fGDF87QCNcBGAsYHQ\/s72-w356-h238-c\/istockphoto-1160752056-170667a.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}}]}});