|
| Function And Topography of Challenging Mealtime Behavior As Tools For Treatment Identification |
| Monday, May 26, 2025 |
| 12:00 PM–12:50 PM |
| Convention Center, Street Level, 143 A-C |
| Area: CBM/EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| Chair: Brittany Jean Martino (Children’s Specialized Hospital) |
| Discussant: Vivian F Ibanez (University of Florida) |
| CE Instructor: Brittany Jean Martino, M.Ed. |
| Abstract: Pediatric feeding difficulties represent a complex interplay of medical, nutritional, psychosocial, and skill-based challenges that can significantly impact oral intake (Goday et al., 2019). Behavior analysts addressing feeding difficulties must navigate these complexities by conducting comprehensive assessments to develop effective, individualized treatments aimed at decreasing inappropriate mealtime behaviors. However, as inappropriate mealtime behaviors decrease and bite or drink acceptance improves, new topographies of challenging behavior that interfere with bite or drink consumption may emerge, such as expulsion. These behaviors necessitate further evaluation and treatment (Sevin et al., 2002). This symposium will explore the function and topographies of challenging mealtime behaviors, emphasizing the role of assessments in guiding treatment decisions. The first presentation will focus on discussing the multiple topographies of expulsion and present findings on the impact of utensil manipulations in reducing wipe-out expulsions. The second presentation will examine the utility of including a tangible condition in feeding functional analyses. Together, these presentations will highlight evidence-based strategies to refine assessment practices and improve outcomes for children with PFDs. |
| Instruction Level: Advanced |
| Keyword(s): assessment, expulsion, feeding-difficulties, functional-analysis |
| Target Audience: advanced |
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify empirically supported assessment strategies for identification of treatment for inappropriate mealtime behavior.
2. Define different topographies of challenging mealtime behavior (e.g., expel).
3. Understand and identify directions for future research to identify treatments for different types of challenging mealtime beahvior. |
| |
| Addressing Multiple Topographies of Expels During Intensive Feeding Intervention |
| LAURA QUINTERO (Marcus Autism Center/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta), Meara X. H. McMahon (Marcus Autism Center and Emory School of Medicine), Valerie M. Volkert (Marcus Autism Center and Emory School of Medicine), Jacquelin Gonzales (Marcus Autism Center/Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta) |
| Abstract: The current study examined the effects of underspoon on wiping food out of the mouth, which is one topography of expulsion. Previous studies have examined modified bolus placement, as an antecedent-based procedure to reduce expulsion by comparing upright presentations to Nuk® brush and/or flipped spoon presentations (Ibanez et al., 2021; Sharp et al., 2012; Volkert et al., 2019; Wilkens et al., 2014). Intensive multidisciplinary programs will sometimes implement wipe prevention which consists of the feeder hovering over the child’s hands to prevent contact with the food. Although this may be ineffective for children with high-intensity responses (e.g., aggression and self-injurious behaviors) or feeders are unable to implement the procedure effectively due to high intensity of refusal behavior. This study initially evaluated two treatments, wipe prevention and re-presentations following high levels of wipe-out expulsion. Although there was only one participant of four to complete the initial evaluation. The present study aimed to assess the effects of underspoon on wipe out expulsions and mouth cleans with children presenting with ARFID following the discontinuation of prevent wipes and re-presentations comparisons. |
| |
Functional analysis technology and assessment: What do we know and where do we go next? |
| EMMA AUTEN (Children’s Specialized Hospital—Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH—RUCARES)), Kathryn M. Peterson (Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta), Casey Toutoungi (Caldwell University) |
| Abstract: Researchers and clinicians treating feeding difficulties have used functional analysis technology to evaluate the maintaining consequences of inappropriate mealtime behavior during the mealtime (Piazza et al., 2003). Saini et al. (2019) found that there were no differences between treatments that were and were not based on functional analyses of inappropriate mealtime behavior (IMB). However, Bachmeyer et al. (2009) and Kirkwood et al. (2020) suggested interventions should be matched to all functions of IMB identified in a functional analysis. Based on the literature, it is unclear how often functional analyses of IMB are currently being used. The current study aimed to a) discuss the current state of the literature related to functional analysis b) evaluate how often practitioners treating food selectivity utilize functional analyses in their practice and c) discuss other types of assessments that could inform treatments. Considerations for practice and future directions for assessment methodology research will be discussed. |
|
| |