2017 Volume 21 Issue 3 Pages 165-172
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social communication, and has increased in recent years. Several studies have compared dietary variety among children with ASD, with normal cognitive development, and with other developmental disabilities, and have concluded that dietary variety is lower in children with ASD and that these children are more likely to refuse food. As one of the causes of selective eating, we thought that children with ASD have some difficulties with eating due to their underdeveloped oral function.
The observational assessment pointed out that children with ASD had some problems with oral function in eating, chewing, biting with front teeth and swallowing. However, there have been no studies which used quantitative indicators for a comparative assessment with typically developed children. Additionally, the oral function of children with ASD has not been fully investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify the oral function of children with ASD. The participants were 27 ASD children (ASD group) and 25 typically developed children (TD group). We used quantitative indicators to assess eating and chewing functions. As a quantitative indicator of eating function, we measured the amount of yogurt remaining on a spoon after eating yogurt from the same size of spoon. Furthermore, we assessed chewing function by counting the number of times of chewing and measuring lip closure while eating a standardized rice cracker.
The statistical results showed that the eating function of the children with ASD was underdeveloped, especially when eating food from the spoon using their lips. Moreover, the number of times of chewing when eating the standardized food by the ASD group was significantly greater and the lip closure when chewing was less developed.
It is considered that the problem of eating such as selective eating is caused by sensory unbalance or behavioral characteristics in children with ASD, but we suggest that they need additional comprehensive support in view of the development delay in oral function.
