Shore, B. A., Babbitt, R. L., Williams, K. E., Coe, D. A. and 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