They may suddenly eliminate a favorite food or bring back an old favorite. Often these children will start with more foods and begin to eliminate them over time. I have seen children with as few as 2 different foods in their repertoire. This is often the same with picky eaters but more pronounced and severe in the resistant eater. One of the characteristics of a resistant eater is the limited acceptance of food items. If there is any doubt whether a child is a picky eater or a resistant eater I always recommend seeking professional guidance from a feeding therapist. While typically developing children who are “picky eaters” will not starve themselves or make themselves ill, problem or resistant eaters might. Children with oral motor impairments may also have a severe fear of eating due to their inability to move food around in their mouth and safely chew and swallow.Ĭhildren with these severe food aversions are often referred to as resistant eaters or problem eaters.Īs a feeding therapist who has worked with many children with severe food aversions it is scary to me to read information with no disclaimer that says children will eat when they are hungry and they will not starve themselves. While this population of children often has feeding aversions it is in no way limited to them.Ĭhildren with medical conditions that have caused pain when eating often have severe food aversions as do children with sensory integration dysfunction. And many of you have children with more severe food aversions.Īpproximately two-thirds of children on the autistic spectrum have severe food aversions which can impact their growth and development. However, when it comes to feeding disorders there is a continuum of severity. When I say “picky eater” I am referring to a child who has picky behaviors but can learn to eat a broader diet and change the bad habits that are negatively impacting themselves and their families. I spend a lot of time writing and speaking about picky eating.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |