Feeding Intervention for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: A Review of Multidisciplinary Treatment and Individual, Family, and Cultural Considerations
摘要
Individuals with Autism are five times as likely to experience feeding difficulties when compared to neurotypical peers (Sharp et al., J Autism Dev Disord 43:2159–2173, 2013). The increased frequency of feeding challenges and associated nutritional (Sharp et al., J Autism Dev Disord 43:2159–2173, 2013), medical (Vissoker et al., Res Autism Spectr Disord 12:10–21, 2015), developmental (Xiang et al., BMC Psychiatry 23(1):174–186, 2023), and psychosocial (Ausderau and Juarez, ICAN 5(5):315–323, 2013; Curtin et al., J Autism Dev Disord 45:3308–3315, 2015) implications make feeding an essential area for intervention. Feeding problems for autistic individuals are often multifaceted in nature and are best addressed by a multidisciplinary team. The team-based method saves the individual and family from attending multiple appointments with different disciplines and allows for consultation at different levels across the continuum of care (Nadler et al., Handbook of Interdisciplinary Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder, pp. 131–150, Springer, 2019). Caregivers are a vital part of the team, and those who receive training in evidence-based feeding intervention have been shown to effectively implement strategies at home and maintain treatment gains (Taylor et al. Acta Paediat 110(1):149–157, 2021). It is important that treatment strategies are respectful and culturally responsive of the identities and autonomy of the individual and their family. To develop feeding services that meaningfully improve the quality of life of people on the autism spectrum, their voices should be included in the design, implementation, and evaluation of feeding interventions, thus improving accessibility, appropriateness, and long-term treatment success.