Table 3.
Characterization of Presentation of Feeding Challenges in Autistic Children with Feeding Challenges ages 2–12 years
| FEAST Item | Responses % (n) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||||
| Never/Almost Never | Once in a While | Sometimes | Frequently | Almost Always | Missing or N/A | |
|
|
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| Early Feeding Challenges | ||||||
| Difficulty with Breast/Bottle Feeding | 2.1% (9) | 44.7% (191) | 13.1% (56) | 16.9% (72) | 19.0% (81) | 4.2% (18) |
| Difficulty Transitioning to Baby Foods | 36.3% (155) | 20.6% (88) | 19.7% (84) | 12.2% (52) | 11.0% (47) | 0.2% (1) |
| Difficulty Transitioning to Table Foods | 31.6% (135) | 14.8% (63) | 20.4% (87) | 15.2% (65) | 17.8% (76) | 0.2% (1) |
| Min | Max | Mean (SD) | ||||
|
|
||||||
| Early Feeding Challenge Composite Score | 2 | 15 | 8.06 (3.13) | |||
| Never/Almost Never | Once in a While | Sometimes | Frequently | Almost Always | Missing or N/A | |
|
|
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| Independent Feeding | ||||||
| Independently uses a Spoon | 8.0% (34) | 10.3% (44) | 18.0% (77) | 17.6% (75) | 46.1% (197) | -- |
| Independently uses a Fork | 8.9% (38) | 13.1% (56) | 9.9% (85) | 18.3% (78) | 39.8% (170) | -- |
| Independently Drinks from a Straw | 2.6% (11) | 2.6% (11) | 5.4% (23) | 9.8% (42) | 79.4% (339) | -- |
| Independently Uses an Open Cup | 11.0% (47) | 5.2% (22) | 14.3% (61) | 11.5% (49) | 58.1% (248) | 0.2% (1) |
| Adult needs to physically feed child | 65.3% (279) | 15.5% (66) | 11.2% (48) | 3.7% (16) | 4.2% (18) | -- |
| Child eats independently | 3.7% (16) | 6.3% (27) | 10.8% (46) | 18.7% (80) | 60.4% (258) | -- |
| Family Mealtime Routine | ||||||
| Caregivers Preparing Separate Meal for Family and Child | 7.0% (30) | 9.6% (41) | 16.4% (70) | 19.4% (83) | 47.5% (203) | -- |
| Child Prefers to Eat Alone | 33.0% (141) | 17.3% (74) | 24.4% (104) | 15.2% (65) | 9.6% (41) | 0.4% (2) |
| Child Eats the Same Food as Family | 36.5% (156) | 23.4% (100) | 20.4% (87) | 23.1% (56) | 6.6% (28) | -- |
| Child Takes a Bite and Roams | 26.7% (114) | 11.5% (49) | 19.4% (83) | 24.1% (103) | 17.8% (76) | 0.4% (2) |
| Child’s Challenges Disrupt Family Mealtime | 11.0% (47) | 16.4% (70) | 34.9% (149) | 23.0% (98) | 14.5% (62) | 0.2% (1) |
| Sibling Imitates Behavior of Child | 60.7% (259) | 14.5% (62) | 13.6% (58) | 7.5% (32) | 1.4% (6) | 2.3% (10) |
| Caregiver Strategies and Responses | ||||||
| Caregiver Offers a New Food | 3.0% (13) | 16.2% (69) | 33.5% (143) | 38.4% (164) | 8.9% (38) | -- |
| Caregiver Offers a Food the Child Has Been Offered and Doesn’t Like | 2.8% (12) | 20.6% (88) | 36.5% (156) | 33.3% (142) | 6.8% (29) | -- |
| Caregiver Plays with Child During Meals: | 45.9% (196) | 20.6% (88) | 22.5% (96) | 7.3% (31) | 3.5% (15) | 0.2% (1) |
| Caregiver Uses Positive Encouragement During Mealtime | 3.3% (14) | 5.4% (23) | 16.9% (72) | 34.7% (148) | 39.8% (170) | -- |
| Caregiver Uses Rewards to Support Eating | 26.9% (115) | 17.8% (76) | 22.5% (96) | 18.0% (77) | 14.8% (63) | -- |
| Caregiver Uses Negative Consequences During Mealtime | 61.6% (263) | 20.1% (86) | 12.4% (53) | 4.4% (19) | 1.4% (6) | -- |
| Child Provided with Distractions During Meals | 22.0% (94) | 13.1% (56) | 15.5% (66) | 22.0% (94) | 27.4% (117) | -- |
| Child Provided with Sensory Strategies During Meals | 59.7% (255) | 9.4% (40) | 15.7% (67) | 8.7% (37) | 6.1% (26) | 0.4% (2) |
| Mealtime Schedule and Length | ||||||
| Child Eats at Designated Snack and Mealtimes | 7.0% (30) | 12.4% (53) | 22.2% (95) | 35.6% (152) | 22.7% (97) | -- |
| Child Eat all Throughout the Day (grazing) | 20.1% (86) | 17.6% (75) | 23.4% (100) | 24.4% (104) | 14.5% (62) | -- |
| Child continues to Eat if Preferred Foods are Available | 8.9% (39) | 11.9% (51) | 21.8% (93) | 26.9% (115) | 30.4% (130) | -- |
| 0–15 Min | 15–30 min | 30–45 min | 45–60 min | 1–2 Hours | 2+ Hours | |
|
|
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| Average Mealtime Length for Child | 36.1% (154) | 36.8% (157) | 14.5% (62) | 9.1% (39) | 2.8% (12) | 0.7% (3) |
| Reported Sensitivities | Taste | Texture | Flavor | Smell | Temperature | None |
|
|
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| Sensitivities to Properties of Food (select all that apply) | 61.8% (264) | 84.5% (361) | 54.1% (231) | 56.9% (243) | 44.7% (191) | 2.8% (12) |
| Location | People | Sounds | Smells | Light | None | |
|
|
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| Sensitivity to Components of the Mealtime Environment (select all that apply) | 34.9% (149) | 44.7% (191) | 59.3% (253) | 34.4% (147) | 25.3% (108) | 17.6% (75) |
| Diet Variety | Dairy | Vegetable | Fruit | Protein | Carb | Sweets |
|
|
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| Child Consistently Eats 2+ Foods from Category (select all that apply) | 70.0% (299) | 35.1% (150) | 59.5% (254) | 58.8% (251) | 85.7% (366) | 72.8% (311) |
| Progression of feeding challenges | Never/Almost Never | Once in a While | Sometimes | Frequently | Almost Always | Missing or N/A |
|
|
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| Child has Continued to Restrict Their Diet Over Time | 3.3% (14) | 5.9% (25) | 14.5% (62) | 31.9% (136) | 44.5% (190) | -- |
| Gotten Worse | Stayed the Same | Improved | ||||
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| Over Time Child’s Feeding Challenges Have... | 35.8% (153) | 31.9% (136) | 32.3% (138) | |||
Note: The response category representing the largest proportion for each item has been bolded. Early Feeding Challenge Composite Score is a sum of all the early feeding challenge variables (difficulty with breast or bottle feeding, difficulty transitioning to baby foods, difficulty transitioning to table foods).