There is growing, but inconsistent, literature on feeding problems for children with Autism
Spectrum Disorder. The purposes of this study were to (a) investigate the relation of feeding
problems to autism severity, (b) assess the validity of parent-report questionnaires widely
used to assess feeding problems in terms of their relation to systematic behavior
observations, and (c) determine the relation between child feeding behavior and family
mealtime environment. Thirty-eight children and their parents participated in the study.
Parents completed questionnaires, and both parents and children participated in mealtime
observations. Results indicated that autism severity predicted scores on a measure of
feeding problems as well as the duration of negative vocalizations during meal
observations. Food Frequency Questionnaires better predicted behavior during meals
than the Brief Mealtime Autism Behavior Inventory. Family environment alone did not
explain feeding difficulties.