Short report: The role of oral hypersensitivity in feeding behaviors of young autistic children.
Kelsey Thompson, Anna Wallisch, Sallie Nowell and 2 others
PMID 36840323WHAT IT FOUND
Young autistic children with oral hypersensitivity showed more food acceptance problems and caused caregivers more negative feelings, but their mealtime behaviors and oral motor skills did not differ from non-hypersensitive peers.
Screening for taste and texture sensitivity helps identify which feeding issues to target.
Key findings
01Children with oral hypersensitivity had significantly higher scores for food acceptance problems than those without oral hypersensitivity.
02Caregivers of children with oral hypersensitivity reported significantly more negative feelings about feeding their child, but did not differ in their use of problematic feeding strategies.
03There were no significant differences between the groups in medical/oral motor feeding problems or general mealtime behaviors.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small, which limited the ability to detect moderate or small differences. Cognitive ability was assessed via a single parent-report item rather than a validated measure, and it differed between groups. The sample lacked racial and ethnic diversity, reducing generalizability. The study did not assess children with oral hyposensitivity, so it is unclear how that pattern relates to feeding. Co-occurring medical conditions were not reported by caregivers, so it is unclear if they influenced the results.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The research was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that oral hypersensitivity causes general mealtime behavior problems or oral motor deficits. This study found that food acceptance and caregiver feelings differed by sensory profile, but mealtime behaviors and oral motor skills did not. Targeting the wrong behaviors may lead to ineffective intervention.