Autism MEAL Plan: Parent Training to Manage Eating Aversions & Limited Variety

"The Autism MEAL plan includes education on feeding issues and behavior management, and specific strategies to expand dietary diversity. Each parent receives 1.5 hours of intervention per week for 10 weeks by a masters or doctoral level clinician. The first three sessions focus on understanding feeding problems and behavior management strategies in children with ASD.The next seven sessions include child-specific feeding interventions, based on parent-report and home data collection of child meal time behavior. To promote application of new skills, homework accompanies each lesson.~The next seven sessions include child-specific feeding interventions, based on parent-report and home data collection of child meal time behavior. To promote application of new skills, homework accompanies each lesson."

"The Parent Education study arm includes 10 sessions focusing on the following topics: understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), clinical assessments for ASD, development in children with ASD, medical and genetic comorbidities in ASD, family and sibling issues, treatment alternatives, and education and treatment planning. The Parent Education arm does not include topics related to feeding problems or feeding specific interventions. Each parent receives 1.5 hours of intervention per week for 10 weeks by a masters or doctoral level clinician.~Children randomized to Parent Education will be offered the Autism MEAL Plan after completing the 10-week randomized trial."