2012 Volume 16 Issue 2 Pages 175-181
We conducted a questionnaire targeting 338 children who utilized the Regional Care and Guidance Center and were diagnosed as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents to survey the actual conditions of unbalanced diets and to study the factors affecting those diets.
The number of foodstuffs never taken was strongly correlated with the development level rather than age. Types of foodstuffs not taken were not significantly different between ages and development levels. Many of them were foodstuffs that are difficult to eat such as “squid and octopus” and vegetables. Accordingly, it was considered necessary to investigate the relationship with eating function.
The number of foodstuffs not taken and sensory bias were strongly correlated with “tactile sense” and “visual sense”. These overlapped with “eating texture” and “visual appearance” cited by parents as reasons for not eating. Processing of foodstuffs improves “tactile sense” and “visual sense” and is considered to be an effective approach. Furthermore, it was suggested that, in addition to eating situations, it is necessary to improve the development level and to reduce sensory bias throughout everyday life.
