Severe feeding problems secondary to anatomical disorders: effectiveness of behavioural treatment in three school‐aged children

Abstract

In the present study, behavioural treatment is described of three school‐aged children with severe feeding problems caused by (surgically corrected) anatomical disorders of the digestive system. Two children showed food refusal and were tube‐fed whereas the third child showed extreme food selectivity. During treatment, shaping, (non)verbal instruction, intermittent contingent attention, and a token economy were effective in eliminating feeding problems in the children. During a mean of 50 sessions of treatment conducted during a period of seven months, each child learned to consume food items orally within a normal speed range. They also learned to accept food items varying in both taste and texture. Each child’s caloric needs were met as a result of total amount of food consumed. The following are discussed: (1) the results of treatment; (2) consequences of participant age for treatment choice; (3) the necessity of recording during treatment sessions; (4) the shortcomings of existing systems of classification of feeding problems.