Dataset Information

Parent Training for Feeding Problems in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Initial Randomized Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have feeding and mealtime problems. To address these, we conducted a pilot randomized trial of a new 11-session, individually delivered parent training program that integrated behavioral strategies and nutritional guidance (PT-F).

Methods

Forty-two young children (age: 2 to 7-11 years) with ASD and feeding problems were assigned to 11 sessions of PT-F intervention over 20 weeks or a waitlist control. Outcomes included attendance, parent satisfaction, therapist fidelity, and preliminary assessments of child and parent outcomes.

Results

Of the 21 PT-F families, attendance was high (85%) as was parent satisfaction (94% would recommend to others). Treatment fidelity was also high (97%-therapist integrity; 94%-parent adherence). Compared with waitlist, children whose parents participated in PT-F showed significantly greater reductions on the two parent-completed primary outcomes (Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory-Revised; Twald = -2.79; p = .003; About Your Child's Eating; Twald = -3.58; p = .001). On the independent evaluator-completed secondary eating outcome, the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement, 48.8% of the participants in PT-F were rated as "responders" compared with 0% in waitlist (p = .006). General child disruptive behavior outcomes decreased more in PT-F but not significantly. Parent outcomes of caregiver stress showed nonsignificant trends favoring PT-F with moderate to small effect sizes.

Conclusions

This trial provides evidence for feasibility, satisfaction, and fidelity of implementation of PT-F for feeding problems in young children with ASD. Feeding outcomes also appeared favorable and lends support for conducting a larger efficacy trial.

SUBMITTER: Johnson CR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6365095 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundHigh prevalence of sleep problems have been reported in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study aims to investigate the sleep conditions of ASD children in China, and explore the relationship between the common sleep problems and core symptoms and developmental levels.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional design, we included 2 to 7-year-old children from 13 cities in China: 1310 with ASD and 1158 with typically-developing (TD) children. The neurodevelopmental level was evaluated with the revised Children Neuropsychological and Behavior Scale (CNBS-R2016). ASD were diagnosed with DSM-5 and Child Autism Rating Scale (CARS). the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the communication warning behavior sub-scale in CNBS-R2016 valued autism behaviors. The children' s sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ) assessed sleep conditions.ResultsThe prevalence of sleep disorders in ASD children was significantly higher than that in TD (67.4% vs. 51%, p < 0.01), and among them the four dimensions with the highest prevalence of sleep problems were bedtime resistance (25.6%), sleep anxiety (22.7%), sleep onset delay (17.9%) and daytime sleepiness (14.7%). ASD children with sleep onset delay or sleep anxiety had higher ABC, SRS scores and higher scores on communication warning behavior with sleep anxiety, with daytime sleepiness had higher ABC, SRS and CARS scores, and with bedtime resistance had higher SRS total scores. Differences in the neurodevelopmental level were not significant.ConclusionChildren with ASD have a higher prevalence of sleep problems. Bedtime resistance, anxiety, sleep onset delay and daytime sleepiness may be related to the core symptoms, but not be related to the developmental level in ASD children. In the clinic, sleep assessment should be included in the routine of ASD visits, and during the intervention, sleep hygiene education is as important as the treatment of biological factors.Trial registrationThe study was approved by the ethics committee of the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Approval Number: (2018) IRB (STUDY) NO. 121, and registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number: ChiCTR2000031194 ).