A Preliminary Study of Self-Reported Food Selectivity in Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Overview

Journal Res Autism Spectr Disord

Publisher Elsevier

Date 2015 Aug 27

PMID 26309446

Citations 43

Authors

Emily S Kuschner

Ian W Eisenberg

Bako Orionzi

W Kyle Simmons

Lauren Kenworthy

Alex Martin

Gregory L Wallace

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Although it is well-established that picky eating is a common feature of early development in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), far less is known about food selectivity during adolescence and adulthood. Using portions of the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile, food selectivity self-ratings were obtained from 65 high-functioning adolescents/young adults with ASD and compared to those of 59 typically developing controls matched on age, IQ, and sex ratio. Individuals with ASD reported preferring familiar foods (food neophobia) and disliking foods with particular textures and strong flavors. Providing linkage to everyday behavior, parent ratings of daily living skills were lower among individuals with ASD and food neophobia than among those without food neophobia. Food selectivity continues to be an important issue for adolescents/young adults with ASD.

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