Correlates of Presence of Feeding Difficulties in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Conditions.

This study looked at eating problems in young children with autism and other developmental delays. More than half of the children had feeding difficulties, even though most were growing normally. Children who showed more repetitive behaviors and weren't in school yet had more eating problems. This suggests parents and doctors should watch for feeding issues even when children are growing well, especially if the child has strong repetitive behaviors.

This cross-sectional study examined feeding difficulties in 132 children aged 1-7 years with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental conditions. Over half (53%) had elevated feeding difficulty scores despite normal growth patterns. Key findings showed that children with higher levels of restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) and those not enrolled in formal schooling experienced significantly more feeding difficulties. The majority of participants (87.7%) had normal weight and height scores, suggesting feeding difficulties may be overlooked when growth appears typical.

The research highlights the need for routine screening of feeding behaviors in children with developmental conditions, particularly those with pronounced repetitive behaviors or limited school exposure.

Clinicians should routinely screen for feeding difficulties in children with developmental conditions, particularly those with high repetitive behaviors or limited school exposure. Normal growth parameters should not preclude feeding behavior assessment. Early identification may prevent nutritional risks and reduce caregiver stress.

Cross-sectional design prevents causal conclusions. Sample may not represent all children with developmental conditions. Feeding difficulties assessed through caregiver report only. Limited detail on specific types of feeding problems or intervention histories.

: Feeding difficulties are more common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental conditions and are associated with nutritional risk and caregiver stress. However, they may be overlooked as growth tends to be preserved. We aimed to identify clinical and behavioral features associated with feeding difficulties among children with developmental conditions.: This cross-sectional study included caregiver-child dyads, with children aged 1-7 years with ASD and other developmental conditions. Caregivers completed the Repetitive Behavior Questionnaire, Second Edition (RBQ-2) to assess child restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) and the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) to assess feeding difficulties.

Demographics, anthropometric measures and cognitive and adaptive scores were retrieved from medical records.: Of the 132 participants (mean age 41.8 months, range 15-67; 74.2% male) included, majority had normal weight (87.7%) and height (89.2%)scores. Among participants, 54.5% had autism, 26.5% language delay and 18.9% other developmental diagnoses. Over half (53.0%) had elevated BPFAS scores. Children not enrolled in school showed significantly more feeding difficulties compared to those who were enrolled (32.6% vs. 16.7%,< 0.05).

The RBQ-2 total score positively correlated with the BPFAS total frequency score (= 0.33,= 0.01) after adjusting for gender, age and developmental diagnosis.: Feeding difficulties were common in this sample. Higher RRBs and absence of formal schooling were associated with higher rates of feeding difficulties. Longitudinal studies are needed to ascertain the role of RRBs and school enrollment as clinical indicators associated with feeding difficulties.