• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.79-102
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• 2023

Objective : Autistic Spectrum Disorders(ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by atypical sensory adaptation, communication problem, stereotyped behavior, and feeding disorders. The reasons for ASD feeding disorders are oral sensory motor, cognitive, behavioral, and social problems. Major symptoms include picky eating, selective eating, food refusal, food neophobia, limited food variety, and food aversion. ASD feeding disorders could be accompanied by various problems such as health and nutrition intake problems, feeding development, eating-related sociability, and family and caregiver stress. Feeding problems and disorders in ASD can present from birth. However, ASD is diagnosed by the age of 3, and there might be an appropriate treatment gap. Usually, symptoms of feeding disorders tend to decrease with age. However, the symptoms often remain, so early evaluation, intervention, and periodic checking are necessary. In this study, the general information about the feeding disorder characteristics of ASD, influencing factors, and intervention were described through a literature review. Conclusion : Sensory-based therapy and behavior-based therapies are generally used for feeding disorders in ASD. Sensory-based therapy is effective for food sensitivity and behavior-based therapy for food selection. As the symptoms of feeding disorders in ASD are diverse, a comprehensive approach includes play and participation, oral motor exercise, diet, and daily life. However, appropriate evaluation, intervention protocol, and guidelines for the treatment of feeding disorders in ASD are limited. Therefore, a complex approach based on a more systematic understanding is needed. Feeding rehabilitation specialists, such as occupational therapists, should provide appropriate evaluation and intervention.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study was to systematically review dysphagia rehabilitation treatment for children with feeding disorders. Methods : The articles evaluated in this study were collected from the PubMed, Medline Complete, and CINAHL databases and subsequently reviewed using the PRISMA flow chart and PICOS approach. A total of 13 papers were analyzed for study quality, disease groups, evaluation tools, interventions, and post-intervention effects. Results : Of the reviewed papers, six (46.15%) related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and seven (53.85%) to cerebral palsy (CP) with age ranges of between 2 and 8 years for the ASD studies and between 12 months and 18 years for CP. In evaluating the types of feeding disorder involved, the ASD group exhibited predominantly behavioral conditions while the CP subjects had a larger number of functional oral and swallowing issues. In terms of interventions, behavior modifications were used most frequently with ASD while oral-sensory motor, texture modifications, and electrical stimulation were applied at the same frequency with children with CP. All interventions were found to be effective. Conclusion : In this study, research into children with feeding disorders was reviewed according to condition, evaluation tool, and method of intervention. It is expected that this review can be used as basic data for developing a protocol that will allow clinicians to efficiently apply condition-specific interventions for eating disorders without resorting to trial and error.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.9-25
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• 2024

Objective : Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly suffer from feeding disorders. Major feeding problems include mealtime behavior problems, picky eating, and a lack of food variety can lead to nutritional problems, developmental and social limitations, and stress for the caregivers. A review of the latest literature was conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of assessment tools for feeding disorders in children with ASD. Method : This study analyzed assessments to identify feeding problems in ASD based on previous studies searched through keywords such as ASD, ASD feeding problem, and ASD feeding evaluation. Results : The ASD feeding disorder assessment was divided into direct and indirect assessments. Indirect assessment, in which caregivers measure a child's situation using questionnaires, is mainly used. The assessment of feeding disorders in children with ASD was divided into 1) mealtime behavior, 2) sensory processing, 3) food consumption, and 4) others. Conclusion : As the main feeding disorder characteristics of children with ASD are very diverse, a comprehensive evaluation is necessary but is still limited. Swallowing rehabilitation experts, such as occupational therapists, should apply comprehensive assessment tools based on a basic understanding of the feeding problems, behaviors, and sensations in ASD.