1.5. Current study
The current investigation examined correlates of feeding problems (food selectivity and behavioral refusal) in children
with autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Note
that we conducted the study prior to the change in diagnostic criteria for ASD. Specifically, we examined the relation
between symptoms of restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped interests and activities and specific feeding problems.
Additionally, we examined the relation between family feeding behaviors and the feeding behaviors of children with these
diagnoses. Lastly, we compared the results of a Food Frequency Questionnaire and the Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior
Inventory, a standardized questionnaire designed to measure feeding problems in children with ASD (both completed by
parents) to systematic behavior observations.
We hypothesized that children who accepted a smaller percentage of bites during a behavior observation would also
reject more foods, as measured by the Food Frequency Questionnaire, as well as have higher scores on the Brief Autism
Mealtime Behavior Inventory. We hypothesized there would be a positive relation between ASD symptomatology and the
Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory total score and ASD symptomatology and the percentage of foods accepted during
the behavior observation. We further hypothesized that specific ASD symptoms would relate directly to specific feeding
problems. Specifically, children with a greater degree of repetitive ritualistic behavior would demonstrate more severe
feeding problems as measured by the Limited Variety factor on the Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory. This
finding
would support the common clinical assumption that the limited variety of foods eaten by children with ASD is related to
repetitive ritualistic behavior. Lastly, we hypothesized that family food preferences would relate to the child’s food
preferences. Because parents may be more likely to serve foods that they themselves consume, we expected exposure to
foods parents present would shape a child’s food preferences
C.A. Aponte, R.G. Romanczyk / Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 21 (2016) 61–72 63