Investigating the impact of autistic children's feeding difficulties on caregivers.

This study looked at how eating problems in autistic children affect their families. Researchers surveyed 78 parents of autistic children aged 5-12. They found that about 7 out of 10 autistic children had significant feeding difficulties. Parents of children with more eating problems reported higher stress and more impact on their daily lives. The study showed that feeding difficulties affected families more than other autism traits or sensory issues.

This cross-sectional study examined how feeding difficulties in autistic children (ages 5-12) impact their caregivers. Seventy-eight caregivers completed surveys assessing their children's autism characteristics, sensory profiles, and feeding difficulties, along with caregiver-reported impact. Results showed that 68.8% of children had clinically significant feeding difficulties, and these children's caregivers reported significantly higher impact on daily activities and worry. A moderate positive correlation (r=0.56) was found between frequency of feeding difficulties and caregiver impact.

Multiple regression analysis revealed that feeding difficulties were the strongest predictor of caregiver impact (moderate effect size, r=0.49), more so than autism characteristics or sensory profiles.

Results suggest that addressing feeding difficulties should be prioritized in autism interventions due to their significant impact on family functioning. Clinical assessment should include systematic evaluation of feeding issues and their family impact. Support services should extend beyond the child to include family-centered approaches that address caregiver stress and daily functioning challenges.

Single time-point survey design limits causal inferences. Sample size of 78 caregivers is relatively small. Study relies on caregiver self-report measures which may introduce bias. No control group of neurotypical children for comparison. Limited age range (5-12 years) restricts generalizability.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of children's autism characteristics, sensory profiles and feeding difficulties on caregiver-reported impact at mealtimes. Caregivers of children (5-12 years) with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder completed an online survey examining (a) demographic characteristics, (b) children's autism characteristics (Social Communication Questionnaire), (c) sensory profiles (Sensory Profile 2-short form), (d) feeding difficulties (Behavioural Paediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale, BPFAS) and (c) caregiver-reported impact of feeding difficulties (Feeding-Swallowing Impact Survey, FS-IS). Seventy-eight caregivers completed surveys for 80 children. Children with clinically significant feeding difficulties on the BPFAS (n = 55, 68.8%) had higher levels of caregiver-reported impact on daily activities, worry and feeding difficulties compared to children without clinically significant feeding difficulties (FS-IS; U = 257.000, z = -4.471, p < 0.01).

Spearman's rank correlation showed a statistically significant, moderate correlation between BPFAS total frequency score and FS-IS Daily activities score, rs (98) = 0.56, p < 0.01, indicating that as the frequency of feeding difficulties increased, the impact of these feeding difficulties on caregivers also increased. Using multiple regression, a model comprising of the three factors was statistically significant (F[1, 78] = 87.75, p < 0.001, adj. R = 0.52), with children's frequency of feeding difficulties the strongest predictor of caregiver-reported impact with a moderate effect size (r = 0.49). Autistic children's feeding difficulties had a greater impact on caregivers than autism or sensory profiles, with the frequency of feeding difficulties and the caregiver impact of these feeding difficulties positively correlated.

The findings demonstrate that efforts to understand and address feeding difficulties in autistic children must extend beyond the children to include their families.