Applied behavior analysis in the treatment of childhood feeding problems

Abstract

This paper discusses behavioral mismanagement as a cause of feeding problems in children and reports the case of a six-year-old handicapped boy who was subsisting almost entirely on pureed foods at the time of his referral. Treatment with applied behavior analysis resulted in his acceptance of food normal for his age, and at follow-up 12 months after treatment the variety of foods eaten and the nutrient intake were virtually normal for his age. The authors discuss the frequent occurrence of feeding problems in children and their possible causes. They propose that such problems constitute a clinical entity and suggest a preliminary classification system for them.