Kahng, S., Tarbox, J., & Wilke, A. E. (2001).
Use of a multicomponent treatment for food refusal.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
34, 93-96.
We examined the use of a multicomponent treatment for food
refusal exhibited by a 5-year-old boy who had been diagnosed with
mild to moderate mental retardation. Treatment consisted of
access to highly preferred tangible items, which were removed
contingent on problem behavior or not accepting a bite, and
differential reinforcement of alternative behavior. Treatment
resulted in an increase in food acceptance to 100% of bite offers
and near-zero rates of problem behavior. In addition, the
participant’s caregivers were successfully trained to implement
the treatment.
DESCRIPTORS: _pediatric feeding disorder, food refusal, response
cost, differential reinforcement of alternative behavior