For the average family, dinnertime is a wonderful time, but it can be stressful and frustrating for parents of picky eaters. No food at all, picky eating, and feeding problems – these are issues that can really affect the socialization, health, and growth of the child. The nice thing is that there are scientifically based, methodical ways of teaching independent eating skills to kids using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.
In this article, we talk about how ABA therapy is beneficial to help eat difficulties and support independent eating.
Learning About Children’s Eating Problems
It is common for the majority of children to experience eating difficulties at one time or another, but as soon as they are persistent or prove to be an impediment to daily living, professional help can be asked for. Some of the eating difficulties include:
- Food pickiness (eating particular foods only)
- Food refusal
- Sensitivity to temperature or texture
- Difficulty with the use of a fork or spoon
- Restricted interest in food
- Requiring others to feed them
Some of the behaviors that a child with medical conditions, developmental delay, or behavioral disorders may exhibit are listed above. Difficulty with eating, if not corrected, can have effects on the nutritional status of a child, his or her emotional well-being, and the capacity to participate in family and social activities.
The Place of ABA Therapy in Eating
Evidence-based ABA is employed to gather knowledge about the behavior and the impact of what drives it, i.e., the environment. ABA therapy is largely used to enable new skills learning in children and extinguish challenging behavior for children with special needs, such as autistic spectrum children.
At the level of diet, ABA therapists use evidence-based procedures to identify the root cause of feeding dysfunctions and create individualized interventions to facilitate proper eating. Some of the ways in which ABA therapy facilitates independent eating are:
1. Assessment and Goal Setting
The initial component of an ABA feeding program is a correct assessment. Behavior analysts observe the child’s mealtime behavior, screen medical history in a child, interview caregivers, and establish the nature of the feeding difficulty. Information are collected on:
- What the child eats and will not eat
- Novel food response child’s behavior
- Eating-time child’s behavior
- Currently established feeding routines
Under this premise, therapists set specific goals. Locations can be, for instance, more foods accepted, becoming proficient in feeding oneself with a fork or spoon, or even drinking independently from a cup.
2. Analysis to Steps of Practice
Yet another ABA foundation is the procedure of breaking down challenging skills into breakable, manageable steps, or task analysis. For eating, this might include:
- Seating at table for longer time
- Reaching and taking utensil
- Spoon to mouth contact
- Munching and swallowing a mouthful
- Cleaning up after meal
Independent steps are practiced step by step, the child progressing step by step to the terminal skill. Prompting, reinforcement, and repetition are used by therapists to teach children to perform each step.
3. Using Positive Reinforcement
Reinforcement is also one of the easiest ABA therapy techniques. Once a child has finished a specific behavior—e.g., trying new food or feeding himself—they are rewarded with something they like. This can be:
- Praise (“Great job eating your carrots!”)
- A preferred toy or activity
- Stickers or tokens that can be exchanged for a larger reward
Reinforcement causes the behavior to happen again in the future. Therapists phase out reinforcement as the child learns to become more independent and intrinsically motivated.
4. Reducing Problem Behaviors
Dinner sometimes leads to problem behavior, such as throwing food, crying, or staying at the table. ABA therapists try to determine why the problem behavior is happening—whether the child is wanting dinner to be over, attention-seeking, or feeling uncomfortable.
After the cause has been identified, the child learns healthier alternatives instead. For instance:
- Teaching the child to use “all done” as opposed to food throwing
- Facilitating the employment of visuals as a means of communication need
- Developing table-sitting tolerance in a sequential manner
Having unacceptable behavior replaced by acceptable functionals, mealtimes become less stressful and effective.
5. Food Variety Development
The majority of children with feeding disorders are fussy eaters who like to consume small amounts of food. ABA treatment is utilized to establish diet breadth by the use of food chaining, stimulus fading, or systematic desensitization:
- Food chaining brings in new food that is of a similar appearance, taste, or texture to a preferred food.
- Stimulus fading gradually changes the composition of a preferred food into one which is less very preferred but of similar nature.
- Desensitization reduces fear of novel foods by exposing the child step by step to them (e.g., seeing, touching, smelling, and lastly tasting).
- The steps are carried out with proficiency in the attempt to build familiarity and remove novelty food resistance.
6. Developing Generalization and Independence
Feeding skills practiced under the clinic need to be generalized to natural environments. ABA therapists instruct parents and caregivers to train children to use feeding skills to these environments:
- Home meals
- School environments
- Restaurant and community environments
Professional caregivers are also part of the process. Skills are modeled by therapists, they teach, and reinforce as they look for consistency and eventually lifelong success.
Looking for ABA therapists in Atlanta, GA? We provide personalized, evidence-based ABA therapy to support your child’s growth and independence. Contact us today to get started.
Conclusion
Mastering independent eating skills can have a lasting impact on a child’s life and contribute to home and community integration. ABA therapy provides structured, compassionate, and individualized support for children with feeding difficulties. Mastering skills in small increments and monitoring progress along the way, children become increasingly confident, independent, and healthy eaters.
If your family child is experiencing an eating issue, take discretion with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) regarding whether or not to pursue ABA therapy. Meal time can be a self-sufficient and enjoyable experience by being persistent and patient and with the assistance of a professional.
