Coping with the Usual Family Diet

Abstract

Children with learning disabilities have increased risk of delayed development of oral-motor, feeding and social skills. Questionnaires on the eating behaviour of children 2 to 18 years of age with Down's syndrome, autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and cri du chat syndrome and their siblings were completed by their parents. Most children including the preschool children were reported to have some level of self-feeding skills. Chewing problems were reported for some children in all age groups, including not only children with a syndrome but also siblings of children with Down's syndrome and ASD. The lack of chewing skills resulted in parents feeding pureed or mashed food to their children. As no child in the study was under 2 years, the reported feeding skills were at best delayed and at worst deviant. Behavioural problems at meals and with diet were common, particularly in children with syndromes and especially in early childhood.