Importance: Impaired sensory processing is associated with eating problems. There seem to be no previousstudies that compare those who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with eating problems (ASD–W) and thosewith ASD without eating problems (ASD–WO) with typically developing (TD) groups. Comparisons are expected toprovide further knowledge to guide the intervention programs.Objective: To investigate differences among ASD–W, ASD–WO, and TD groups in eating and sensory features; todetect associations between sensory and eating behaviors and any most involved sensory dimensions; and tosearch for age-related differences in sensory and eating features in ASD.Design: Nonrandomized comparison study.Setting: Questionnaires administered as parent interviews.Participants: A total of 165 children were recruited: 117 with ASD and 48 TD children.Outcomes and Measures: Standardized questionnaires: the Brief Autism Mealtime Behaviors Inventory for eatingproblems; the Short Sensory Profile and the Sensory Experience Questionnaire for sensory problems.Results: The ASD–W group showed generalized, impaired eating behaviors and turned out to be the mostimpaired with regard to sensory responsiveness. No differences in feeding behaviors were found between theASD–WO and TD groups. All children with ASD showed sensory hyper- or hyporesponsiveness. Four main sensorydimensions were found to be associated with eating behaviors in ASD. No age differences were found in the eatingand sensory behaviors of children with ASD.Conclusions and Relevance: Differing eating and sensory profiles were found between the ASD and TD groups,especially in children with ASD–W. Early eating interventions using sensory stimulations are stronglyrecommended.What This Article Adds: This study reports novel information derived from the comparisons of children with ASDwith eating problems and those with ASD without eating problems with typically developing groups of children.
Eating and Sensory Features of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Typically Developing Peers
Zingale, Marinella;Elia, Maurizio
2023-01-01
Abstract
Importance: Impaired sensory processing is associated with eating problems. There seem to be no previousstudies that compare those who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with eating problems (ASD–W) and thosewith ASD without eating problems (ASD–WO) with typically developing (TD) groups. Comparisons are expected toprovide further knowledge to guide the intervention programs.Objective: To investigate differences among ASD–W, ASD–WO, and TD groups in eating and sensory features; todetect associations between sensory and eating behaviors and any most involved sensory dimensions; and tosearch for age-related differences in sensory and eating features in ASD.Design: Nonrandomized comparison study.Setting: Questionnaires administered as parent interviews.Participants: A total of 165 children were recruited: 117 with ASD and 48 TD children.Outcomes and Measures: Standardized questionnaires: the Brief Autism Mealtime Behaviors Inventory for eatingproblems; the Short Sensory Profile and the Sensory Experience Questionnaire for sensory problems.Results: The ASD–W group showed generalized, impaired eating behaviors and turned out to be the mostimpaired with regard to sensory responsiveness. No differences in feeding behaviors were found between theASD–WO and TD groups. All children with ASD showed sensory hyper- or hyporesponsiveness. Four main sensorydimensions were found to be associated with eating behaviors in ASD. No age differences were found in the eatingand sensory behaviors of children with ASD.Conclusions and Relevance: Differing eating and sensory profiles were found between the ASD and TD groups,especially in children with ASD–W. Early eating interventions using sensory stimulations are stronglyrecommended.What This Article Adds: This study reports novel information derived from the comparisons of children with ASDwith eating problems and those with ASD without eating problems with typically developing groups of children.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
