Abstract

HERNANDEZ ESLAVA, Varsovia; FERNAND, Jonathan K.  and  VOLLMER, Timothy R.. Pediatric feeding problems: A field of application in behavior analysis. Rev. Mex. de trastor. aliment [online]. 2016, vol.7, n.2, pp.144-156. ISSN 2007-1523.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmta.2016.07.001.

Pediatric feeding problems occur in a significant proportion of children, especially, in those with developmental disabilities. If unattended, these problems can have negative effects on children's health, such as: severe weight loss, malnutrition, delayed linear growth and in extreme cases, death. The behavior-analytic approach to the assessment and treatment of feeding problems with children has proven to be successful in increasing appropriate eating while decreasing maladaptive behavior. In this paper, the first of its kind in Spanish, a critical review of assessment and treatment methods developed under a behavioral-analytic perspective is conducted, its clinical application is illustrated with a case study and new lines of research are proposed. It is concluded that the procedures developed within this perspective have proven to be effective for the treatment of pediatric feeding problems. Future research should focus on delimiting treatment parameters in an effort to determine the effectiveness of treatments, as well as developing parent-training programs to treat and prevent feeding problems in their children.

Keywords : Applied behavior analysis; Eating behavior; Food selectivity; Eating problems; Treatment.