Gradual Exposure Training for the Acceptance of New Foods in a Student with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Methylmalonic Acidemia with Homocystinuria
Sara Nutini, Roberta Tre Re, Valentina Petrini, Claudia Costella, Brunella Voltarelli, Adele Carpitelli
The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of gradual exposure training for the acceptance of new foods. In this study, the participant is a six-year-old male with autistic spectrum disorder associated with methylmalonic acidemia with homocystinuria and severe intellectual disability. The participant was chosen for the extreme food selectivity presented. An experimental changing criterion design was used for the study. The percentage of correct responses per training session were measured as first dependent variable, according to a hierarchy of food acceptance. The occurrence of dysfunctional behaviour (retching) exhibited during the meal was measured as second dependent variable. The treatment comprises training on gradual exposure for the acceptance of target foods and its components are: shaping, prompting, contingent positive reinforcement and differential reinforcement. The procedure proved to be effective for expanding the repertoire of foods consumed and for generalising this ability with different people and in different contexts. The dysfunctional behaviour displayed during the meal was extinguished.
Keywords
Food selectivity, Gradual exposure, Shaping, Contingent positive reinforcement, Differential reinforcement.
