title: Utensil manipulation during initial treatment of pediatric feeding problems.
abstract: Children with feeding disorders exhibit a variety of problem behaviors during meals. One method of treating problem mealtime behavior is to implement interventions sequentially after the problem behavior emerges (e.g., Sevin, Gulotta, Sierp, Rosica, & Miller, 2002). Alternatively, interventions could target problem behavior in anticipation of its emergence. In the current study, we implemented nonremoval and re-presentation of bites either on a spoon or on a Nuk for 12 children with feeding problems. The nonremoval and re-presentation treatment improved feeding behavior for 8 of 12 children. Of those 8 children, 5 had lower levels of expulsions, and 4 of the 8 children had higher levels of mouth clean with the Nuk than with the spoon. We describe the subsequent clinical course of treatment and present follow-up data for 7 of the 8 children who responded to the nonremoval and re-presentation treatment with the spoon or Nuk. The data are discussed in terms of potential reasons why the utensil manipulation improved feeding behavior for some children.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute.
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: Cathleen C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Groff
authors.forename: Valerie M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Volkert
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kozisek
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Milnes
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003297:Cooking and Eating Utensils; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D019959:Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: Nuk; escape extinction; expulsion; feeding disorder; pediatric feeding disorders; re-presentation