Online ISSN: 2325-7466
2006
Triannual
National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET)
United States

Articles

Exploration of the Relationship Between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): A Literature Review

  • Katelyn Edwards, M. S. (Author) Shenandoah University image/svg+xml
    Katelyn Edwards is a 2019 graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise and a 2022 graduate of Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia with a M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis. She works as a Registered Behavior Technician and is completing requirements to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. She provides home-based therapy to children with autism spectrum disorder ranging in 3-7 years of age
  • Vicky G. Spencer, Ph.D. – BCBA-D (Author) Shenandoah University
    Vicky G. Spencer is a Professor and Director of the Applied Behavior Analysis graduate program at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. She has over 25 years of experience in the United States as a classroom teacher, university professor, disability specialist, teacher trainer, and parent consultant. Dr. Spencer, a Fulbright Scholar, has a strong interest in international special education and has traveled extensively for the past twenty years serving as both an educator and a humanitarian. She is the past president of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES) which focuses on inclusion and diversity of all children both in the educational system and the community. In addition, Dr. Spencer has numerous publications in refereed journals in the field of special education and has published seven books that focus on teaching students with disabilities.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.564
Abstract
The purpose of this literature review was to provide a comprehensive summary of the relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Eight research studies published between the years 2012 and 2022 were included in the review. The studies examined various symptoms, risk factors, comorbidities, treatment options, and the prevalence of ARFID among children diagnosed with ASD. Overall, results suggested a strong correlation between having an ARFID diagnosis if already diagnosed with ASD. Additionally, it is more common to be diagnosed with ARFID in children of younger age and/or male. Potential treatment options for children dealing with ARFID are differential reinforcement alternate behaviors (DRA), various schedules of reinforcement, and treating the disorder as a resistance to change, not an eating disorder. Future research should be continued to further explain the characteristics of ARFID and find additional treatment options for children dealing with ARFID with and without an ASD diagnosis.
Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorders, Behavior Modification, Children, Comorbidity, Consultation Programs, Eating Disorders
References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Bandini et al. (2010). Food selectivity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and typically developing children. The Journal of Pediatrics, 157, 259-264. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.02.013

Bloomfield, B. S., Fischer, A. J., Dove, M., Clark, R. R., & Fife, M. (2021). Parent teleconsultation to increase bites consumed: A demonstration across foods for a child with ARFID and ASD. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14(4), 913–926. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00586-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00586-4

Cermak, S. A., Curtin, C., & Bandini, L. (2014). Sensory sensitivity and food selectivity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Comprehensive Guide to Autism, 2061–2076. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_126 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_126

Crowley, J. G., Peterson, K. M., Fisher, W. W., & Piazza, C. C. (2020). Treating food selectivity as resistance to change in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 53(4), 2002–2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.711 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.711

Farag, F., Sims, A., Strudwick, K., Carrasco, J., Waters, A., Ford, V., Hopkins, J., Whitlingum, G., Absoud, M., & Kelly, V. B. (2021). Avoidant/restrictive Food Intake Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clinical implications for assessment and management. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 64(2), 176–182. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.14977 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.14977

Food selectivity-cedwvu.org. West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities. (n.d.). Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://www.cedwvu.org/media/1148/feeding-behavioral-food-selectivity-2014.pdf

Inoue, T., Ryoko, O., Ryoichi, S., Akari, A., Togashi, K., & Akio, W. (2016). 3.29 Investigating autism spectrum traits in adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 55, S151. https://doi-org.suproxy.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2016.09.161 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2016.09.161

King, H., Howarth, R., Choi, S. R., & Fischer, A. J. (2022). Using a teleconsultation-enhanced treatment for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in an adolescent male. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 44(1), 35–59. https://doi-org.suproxy.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/07317107.2021.2024716 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07317107.2021.2024716

Koomar, T., Thomas, T. R., Pottschmidt, N. R., Lutter, M., & Michaelson, J. J. (2021). Estimating the prevalence and genetic risk mechanisms of ARFID in a large autism cohort. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 668297. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.668297 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.668297

Lucarelli, J., Pappas, D., Welchons, L., & Augustyn, M. (2017). Autism Spectrum Disorder and Avoidant/restrictive Food Intake Disorder. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 38(1), 79–80. https://doi-org.suproxy.idm.oclc.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000362 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000362

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The most effective quantitative data collection methods. GCU. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.gcu.edu/blog/doctoral-journey/most-effective-quantitative-data-collection-methods

Zimmerman, J., & Fisher, M. (2017). Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake disorder (ARFID). Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 47(4), 95–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cppeds.2017.02.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cppeds.2017.02.005

There are 16 references in total.
How to Cite
Edwards, K., & Spencer, V. G. (2024). Exploration of the Relationship Between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): A Literature Review . Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 19(3), 152-161. https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.564

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  • Submitted August 17, 2024
  • Published October 15, 2024
  • Issue Fall 2024
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