Kids on the autism spectrum often express a strong preference for foods that feel a certain way in their mouths. Some prefer soft or creamy foods like yogurt, soup or ice cream; others need the stimulation that crunchy foods like Cheetos or — if a parent is lucky, carrots — provide. Some of the autistic children may be selective with their diets due to compulsive behaviors, others may face motor and sensory challenges that restrict their ability to eat a variety of foods.

A child with motor deficits may have trouble chewing and swallowing, which is why they may develop a preference for smooth foods that would not require much of either.

lNTERVENTIONS FOR FEEDING PROBLEMS IN AUTISM Most children with mild feeding issues can benefit from outpatient treatment with an occupational or behavioral therapist, or a speech and language pathologist. Health care professionals treat feeding disorders caused by motor problems or sensory preferences by evaluating a child's diet. This would give them a clue into the possible causes for the selective eating. The speech and occupational therapy can treat obvious motor deficits. Speech pathologists may work with the child to strengthen jaw muscles, and the muscles they use to move their tongues, bite, chew, swallow and perform other functions involved in eating food. Occupational therapists may teach the child to use utensils, good posture, and other supports they may need to eat their meal.

They may use aids such as chewy tubes to help with motor functions involved in getting food from the child's plate and into their mouths.

Causes of feeding problem in autism may be unclear However , if the child is eating only fries, they're chewing, and you can rule out motor issues. Then the resistance to other foods may just be a preferenc. "But if you have a child who is only eating smooth food, we don't know if he/she has an oral/motor issue or if it's just a preference."

You can present the child with different foods and observe their reaction. If the child only eats smooth food and seems averse to other textures, then it can be judged that the child is having motor deficits, such as jaw weakness that may prevent them from chewing his/her food. On the other hand, if the child seems open to trying other types of food, eating smooth food may be a preference. Treatments can help children overcome sensory problems by repeatedly exposing them to a food item they may be refusing until they eat it.

This reduces their defensiveness to unfavorable sensory input, such as sound, light or color "We keep presenting the child with a certain type of food item they may have an aversion to, and as they get practice, their adverse response diminishes over time. Most times, health care professionals introduce foods by gradually slipping in food types that the child does not usually eat A different technique can be used that teaches children with autism to overcome their fear of new foods. "The first step is to have them touch the food to their lips. It teaches the kid to overcome the fear of the food in general. Pair that with reinforcement, praise or an incentive, such as time on the iPad or whatever, and over time, conditioning them to think that this food is associated with good things. When they get comfortable with new food, and they start taking small bites. 

Then we increase the expectations with the bites of food getting bigger and bigger." PARENTS CAN REINFORCE GOOD FEEDING HABITS There are many ways parents can reinforce good feeding habits in their child with autism. They could have their child try at least one mouthful of a food item they do like at every meal, and perhaps make it more palatable by adding condiments that the child likes, such as ketchup or honey. They could also change the texture of the food by chopping food into smaller pieces or pureeing them according to the child's preference. Another technique involves an adult physically guiding a spoon to the child's mouth by putting their hands over the child's hands, and giving positive reinforcem Reply by: Ms. Pratima Tiwary