Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Feb 4;15(3):881-892.
doi: 10.1007/s40617-021-00674-5. eCollection 2022 Sep.

CHARGE Syndrome and Comorbid Feeding Difficulties: A Summary of Outcomes following Behavior Analytic Treatment

Hallie M Smith  1   2 , Hailey Ripple  1   2   3 , Alison M Kozlowski  1   3 , Kasee K Stratton-Gadke  2 , Peter Girolami  1   3
Affiliations

CHARGE Syndrome and Comorbid Feeding Difficulties: A Summary of Outcomes following Behavior Analytic Treatment

Hallie M Smith et al. Behav Anal Pract. .

Abstract

CHARGE syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by mutation of the CHD7 gene. Children with CHARGE syndrome often experience vision and hearing impairments, delayed growth and development, heart abnormalities, and artesia/stenosis of the chonae. Although not part of the diagnostic criteria, many individuals with CHARGE syndrome experience feeding and gastrointestinal difficulties. Interventions most commonly recommended and utilized to address feeding difficulties for children with CHARGE syndrome include tube feedings (medical approach) and oral-motor therapy. Despite the effectiveness of a behavior analytic approach to address feeding difficulties for a variety of pediatric populations, this approach is not routinely considered as a viable treatment option to address feeding difficulties for children with CHARGE syndrome. Outcome data of four children with CHARGE syndrome who participated in an intensive behavioral-based feeding program were reviewed. Variables reviewed included percentage of admission goals achieved, treatment strategies utilized, and changes in growth status, feeding tube dependence, texture and variety of foods consumed, and occurrence of inappropriate mealtime behavior. Outcomes evaluated in this review support the effectiveness of a behavior analytic approach for addressing feeding difficulties for children with CHARGE syndrome.

Keywords: Applied behavior analysis; CHARGE syndrome; Feeding difficulties; Food refusal; Food selectivity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of InterestNone of the authors have any conflicts of interests to report.

References

    1. Ahearn WH. Using simultaneous presentation to increase vegetable consumption in a mildly selective child with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. 2003;36(3):361–365. doi: 10.1901/jaba.2003.36-361. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ahearn WH, Kerwin ML, Eicher PS, Shantz J, Swearingin W. An alternating treatments comparison of two intensive interventions for food refusal. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. 1996;29(3):321–332. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1996.29-321. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Arvedson J. Feeding issues. In: Hartshorne TS, Hefner MA, Davenport SLH, Thelin JW, editors. CHARGE syndrome. Plural Publishing; 2011. pp. 113–138.
    1. Babbitt RL, Hoch TA, Coe DA, Cataldo MF, Kelly KJ, Stackhouse C, Perman JA. Behavioral assessment and treatment of pediatric feeding disorders. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 1994;15(4):278–291. doi: 10.1097/00004703-199408000-00011. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bergman JE, Janssen N, Hoefsloot LH, Jongmans MC, Hofstra RM, van Ravenswaaij-Arts CM. CHD7 mutations and CHARGE syndrome: The clinical explanations of an expanding phenotype. Journal of Medical Genetics. 2011;48(5):334–342. doi: 10.1136/jmg.2010.087106. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources