Food Selectivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review on Intervention Studies Based on Behavioral Methods

Abstract

Children with ASD(Autism Spectrum Disorder) often report various feeding problems and food selectivity is one of the most frequently reported problematic eating behaviors. Applied Behavior Analysis(ABA) is the Evidence-Based Treatment(EBT) related to feeding problems for children with ASD and numbers of studies have proved treatments based on ABA to be effective. However there are almost no researches done in Korea and so analyzing previous researches done abroad would become a guideline for future studies and treatment cases in clinical settings. The purpose of this study is to review recent studies about treating food selectivity shown by children with ASD and analyze the difference according to various aspects related with the treatment and the subject of the intervention. Considering the results, It is expected for Korean researchers and clinical practitioners to select the most effective treatment programs and make progress in the field of research in feeding problems with ASD.