Behavior Analytic Approaches to Promote Enjoyable Mealtimes for Autistics/Individuals Diagnosed with Autism and their Families
Joseph H. Cihon, Lisa Tereshko, Kimberly B. Marshall, Mary Jane Weiss (Eds.)
by Amy E. Tanner (Capilano University)
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This book stands out with its unique focus, that of promoting enjoyable mealtimes. The authors were exceptionally sensitive to this qualitative aspect of the issue of feeding disorder. This goal of enjoyment of eating cannot be stressed enough, and this context shapes the rest of the book. In addition, the authors achieved the impressive feat of straddling both the clinical and research worlds. The authors methodically review the extant research on the many varied issues related to feeding disorders (e.g., assessment, causes, parent/staff training, etc.), so graduate students and researchers will find this book invaluable in that way. But also, the authors achieved another important goal of writing this for the interventionists who deal with eating disorders in their clinical and educational practices. The book is complete with practical suggestions for implementing all necessary steps of working with individuals who fit this particular diagnosis. The authors have taken the time to provide us with a comprehensive review of this very important topic, and this book will become an incredibly helpful resource.
Dr. Thomas Zane
Director of Online Programs in Behavior Analysis
Department of Applied Behavioral Science
University of Kansas
The prevalence data of mealtime challenges in autistics/individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are concerning to many, and there are many treatment options ranging from folklore to those with significant evidence. Those experiencing mealtime challenges, the parents/guardians of those experiencing them, and professionals seeking to apply the best practices can have hope with a renewed focus from behavior analysts: positive approaches that achieve meaningful behavior change. Cihon et al. (2022) is both a summary of tangible evidence that supports how to assist those experiencing mealtime challenges, but arguably and more importantly includes how to support someone while maintaining a least intrusive treatment method approach. The outcome? It is magnificent. ‘Enjoyable mealtimes.’
Ryan O'Donnell, MS, BCBA
Creative Behavioral Scientist and Videographer
It has been estimated that 70% to 90% of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience mealtime challenges (Volkert & Vaz, 2010). Most approaches to the treatment of mealtime challenges have focused on decreasing interfering mealtime behaviors through escape extinction (i.e., requiring consumption of food prior to meal termination) and other approaches that may be perceived as punitive by parents, individuals diagnosed with ASD, and other stakeholders. In recent years, there has been an increase in research on promoting enjoyable mealtimes for individuals diagnosed with ASD and their families. The purpose of this edited book is to provide a comprehensive review of these approaches for improving mealtime behaviors for individuals diagnosed with ASD, provide clinical recommendations for improving mealtime behaviors, and identify areas for future research.
List of Figures and Tables
Editors
Contributors
Chapter 1
An Introduction to Mealtime Challenges in Autism
Kimberly B. Marshall
Endicott College; University of Oregon
Mary Jane Weiss
Endicott College
Lisa Tereshko
Endicott College
Joseph H. Cihon
Endicott College; Autism Partnership Foundation
Chapter 2
Multidisciplinary Approaches to Mealtime Interventions
Laura Seiverling
Ball State University; Bites Feeding Therapy, LLC
Elise Jusko
Bites Feeding Therapy, LLC
JoKathleen Rodriguez
St Mary’s Healthcare System for Children
Anselma Kuljanic
St Mary’s Healthcare System for Children
Bill Weaver
Functional Occupational Therapy
Chapter 3
Assessment of Mealtime Behaviors
Sean D. Casey
Heartland Pediatric Feeding Disorders Services, LLC
Meara X. H. McMahon
Emory University; Marcus Autism Center
Gregory K. Reed
Howard University
Chapter 4
Mealtime Goals: More Than Just Consumption
Kimberly B. Marshall
Endicott College; University of Oregon
Joseph H. Cihon
Endicott College; Autism Partnership Foundation
Chapter 5
Ethical Challenges with Addressing Mealtime Behaviors
Lisa Tereshko
Endicott College
Mary Jane Weiss
Endicott College
Chapter 6
Cultural Considerations for Mealtimes
Lisa Tereshko
Endicott College
Videsha Marya
Endicott College; Village Autism Center
Nicholas Orland
Dubai Autism Center
Chapter 7
Shaping, Systematic Desensitization, and Graduated Exposure
Amy E. Tanner
Capilano University
Chapter 8
Having Fun While Eating: Using a High-Probability Instructional Sequence to Increase Food Consumption
Meeta R. Patel
Clinic 4 Kidz; Stanford University School of Medicine
Chapter 9
Fading Procedures in the Treatment of Mealtime Behaviors
Hunter C. King
University of Utah
Heather Lewis
University of Utah
Lauren E. Martone
University of Utah
Aaron J. Fischer
University of Utah
Chapter 10
Using Modeling to Increase Diet Selection and Teach Mealtime Behaviors
Jonathan W. Ivy
The Pennsylvania State University
Keith E. Williams
Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Chapter 11
Rapid Eating: When Eating Too Fast is the Problem
Mitch Fryling
California State University
Agustin Jimenez
California State University
Chapter 12
Food Dudes: The Super Highway to Healthy Eating for all Children
Pauline J. Horne
Healthy Eating and Activity Research Team (HEART); School of Human and Behavioural Science Bangor University
Jessica L. McCreery
Healthy Eating and Activity Research Team (HEART); School of Human and Behavioural Science Bangor University
Michelle Walker
Healthy Eating and Activity Research Team (HEART); School of Human and Behavioural Science Bangor University
Chapter 13
Increasing Family Involvement Through Caregiver Training
Lisa Tereshko
Endicott College
Kristin Bowman
Endicott College
Mary Jane Weiss
Endicott College
Chapter 14
Building Staff Competency to Create Positive and Effective Mealtimes Through Training and Supervision
Lisa Tereshko
Endicott College
Chapter 15
Where do we go From Here? Future Directions for the Development of Enjoyable Mealtimes
Mary Jane Weiss
Endicott College
Lisa Tereshko
Endicott College
Kimberly B. Marshall
Endicott College; University of Oregon
Joseph Cihon
Endicott College; Autism Partnership Foundation
Index
Joseph H. Cihon, Ph.D., BCBA-D is currently the Director of Research at the Autism Partnership Foundation, Adjunct Professor at Endicott College, and the Secretary/Treasurer of the Autism Special Interest Group. He has 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities in home, school, and community settings. His research interests in behavior analysis are broad and include, but are not limited to, evaluating assumptions within practice, examining historical foundations in behavior analysis, training thoroughgoing behavior analysts, examining the effectiveness and training professionals in shaping techniques, increasing favorable interactions among children, their families, and interventionists, developing contingencies to promote generalization and maintenance, and improving mealtimes for selective eaters. Joe has numerous publications in several behavior analytic journals and has served as a reviewer for several journals including the 'Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis', 'Behavior Analysis in Practice', the 'Psychological Record', the 'Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders', the 'Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities', the 'Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions', the 'Journal of Developmental Neurorehabilitation', and the 'Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders'.
Lisa Tereshko, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA is a Graduate Instructor and Advisor with the ABA Department at Endicott College. Lisa has over 15 years of experience working with children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and other intellectual and behavioral disorders in schools, residential, and home settings. Her research interests include functional analyses, feeding interventions, and increasing cultural responsiveness in higher education. Lisa has published articles on reduction of stereotypy, reduction of self-injurious behavior, video modeling, ethical and positive feeding practices, training of descriptive assessments, and increasing cultural responsiveness in a higher education setting and presented locally, nationally, and internationally on topics including staff training, discrete trial teaching, challenging behavior reduction, increasing feeding behaviors, functional analyses, and culturally responsive practices. She is a regular reviewer for two professional journals and serves as an editor on the Editorial Review Board for 'Behavior Analysis in Practice'.
Kimberly B. Marshall, Ph.D., BCBA-D is the Program Coordinator and Lecturer in the Applied Behavior Analysis Master’s Program at the University of Oregon. Kimberly has over 15 years of experience working with children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders in school and community settings. Her research interests include complex skill acquisition, the effective training of pre-service clinicians of behavior analysis, and the impact of jargon on successful practice. Her research has focused heavily on continual improvement of university coursework to drive effective strategies for developing practitioners with a strong understanding of the conceptual underpinnings of behavior analysis, who incorporate compassion and cultural responsiveness into their practice. Kimberly has presented nationally and internationally on topics including reading comprehension, functional analysis, and conceptual instruction in applied behavior analysis.
Mary Jane Weiss, Ph.D., BCBA-D is the Associate Dean of Applied Behavior Analysis at Endicott College, where she has been teaching for 9 years, and where she is the Executive Director of Programs in ABA and autism, and Director of the Ph.D. Program in ABA. Dr. Weiss has worked in the field of ABA and Autism for over 35 years. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University in 1990 and she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2000. She previously worked for 16 years at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University. Her clinical and research interests center on defining best practice ABA techniques, exploring ways to enhance the ethical conduct of practitioners, teaching social skills to learners with autism, training staff to be optimally effective at instruction and at collaboration, and maximizing family members’ expertise and adaptation. She serves on the Scientific Council of the Organization for Autism Research, is on the board of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment, is a regular contributor to the ABA Ethics Hotline, and is an advisor to the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. She is a regular reviewer for several professional journals and is a frequent member of service committees for a variety of organizations.
Autism, food selectivity, behavior analysis, extinction, reinforcement, feeding, antecedent intervention, mealtime challenges
