The effects of reinforcer pairing on food preference and subsequent reinforcer value in individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Food selectivity (severe "picky eating") is commonly seen in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with prevalence rates ranging from 59-83%. It presents a challenge for caregivers of individuals with ASD, as these children tend to display high rates of problem behavior when presented with nonpreferred foods (Ledford & Gast, 2006; Sharp, Jaquess & Lukens, 2013). Food selectivity has been associated with inadequate nutrient consumption and is a risk factor for obesity in children with ASD (Bandini et al., 2010). Additionally, poor eating habits can also become increasingly problematic as children grow older and gain more independence and greater access to foods (Ho, Eaves & Peabody, 1997). The treatment of feeding problems can be challenging, and most of this research has been conducted in populations without ASD. The results from these populations may have limited applicability to children with ASD, as those studies tend to examine individuals with medical conditions that are related to the feeding problems (Ledford & Gast, 2006). Therefore, further research is needed to fill this gap by extending research to individuals with ASD. The present study partially replicated and extended a pairing and fading procedure used by Solberg, Hanley, Layer, and Ingvarsson (2007) to shift preferences to healthier food items, with the addition of a reinforcer assessment both before and after the pairing procedure in order to determine whether the targeted foods also functioned as reinforcers. The present study employed a multiple baseline across subjects design. Two participants achieved a stable baseline and were introduced to the pairing procedure but did not demonstrate a shift in preference to other food items. The third participant did not achieve the necessary baseline in order to continue with the pairing and fading portion of the intervention. These results indicate that this pairing and fading procedure may not be appropriate for low functioning individuals with ASD. Possible explanations and future research directions are discussed.M.S.Includes bibliographical referencesby Erica Meryl Dasho