Shore, B. A., Babbitt, R. L., Williams, K. E., Coe, D. A., & Snyder, A. (1998).
Use of texture fading in the treatment of food selectivity.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
31, 621-633.
Children with feeding disorders often display severe food
selectivity. For many of these children, consuming highly
textured foods may be aversive or potentially dangerous because
of frequent gagging. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate
the efficacy of texture fading in the treatment of food
selectivity displayed by 4 children. Treatment involved the
gradual addition of higher textures based on the results of
periodic probes. In addition, food acceptance and swallowing were
reinforced, while food refusal and food expulsion were placed on
extinction. Results showed that all participants successfully
advanced to consumption of age-appropriate texture and volume.
The results suggest that texture fading with intermittent probes
at higher textures may be an effective method for the treatment
of food selectivity by texture.
DESCRIPTORS: food refusal, food selectivity, stimulus fading,
behavioral medicine, children