Managing Eating Difficulties in Autism
Elizabeth Shea
Birmingham Food Refusal Services/The University of Birmingham
Dr Elizabeth Shea is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked with children and young people who refuse and avoid foods for almost two decades. Previously a Primary School Teacher and a Counsellor with Childline UK, she started her Psychology career with the National Autistic Society where she developed a career-long interest in eating difficulties in autism. She is a recognised writer and speaker on this subject across the UK and Ireland.Her research interest is avoidant and restrictive eating and she has developed interventions which featured in the 2008 ITV documentary ‘My Child Won’t Eat’. She is a Practice Associate of Scottish Autism and has made a series of films on eating issues for their ‘Right Click’ e-training Programme. With colleagues she provides day workshops on managing eating difficulties in autism in collaboration with the National Autistic Society. She regularly speaks to groups of parents across national autism networks about how to manage their child’s eating issues. With colleagues in the clinical and academic field of childhood feeding disorders she has now established an independent clinic in Birmingham for individuals who refuse foods.
Abstract
Feeding and eating problems are commonly reported in individuals with autism. Difficulties include a limited diet, not being able to eat away from home, going long periods of time without eating or over eating and Pica (the... [ view full abstract ]
Feeding and eating problems are commonly reported in individuals with autism. Difficulties include a limited diet, not being able to eat away from home, going long periods of time without eating or over eating and Pica (the eating of non-foods). Usually beginning in childhood and persisting into adulthood they can have a significant and negative impact on the individual’s functioning and quality of life. In addition, parents and carers frequently report feelings of blame and anxiety with worries about health and the social impact being common.
Despite the frequency, eating problems in autism are often poorly understood with a significant lack of literature on evidence-based interventions. This leads to confusion in carers about the best way to manage mealtimes and support the individual. Early recognition and intervention are therefore essential to improve outcomes for health and wellbeing both for individuals and their families.
Taking a developmental perspective and using knowledge from academic and clinical fields of typical feeding development and childhood feeding disorders, this presentation will briefly outline how eating issues in autism relate to the characteristics of the condition itself. It will then present evidence and practice-based ideas for intervention across the spectrum. These will include practical strategies for the management of avoidant and restrictive eating, eating away from home, pica and the particular issues with food and eating faced by females.
Lastly, it will conclude with the importance of taking a holistic, person-centred approach in the management of eating difficulties in order to meet individual need.
Ethics and permissions statement and / or disclosure of potential conflict of interest (if relevant)
Presentation is based on the clinical and research data collected by the author through the course of their academic and clinical practice. No identifying or individual clinical information will be presented. The author runs... [ view full abstract ]
Presentation is based on the clinical and research data collected by the author through the course of their academic and clinical practice. No identifying or individual clinical information will be presented.
The author runs an independent assessment and intervention service for individuals who refuse foods. They have also completed work for local and national autism charities and organisations on eating difficulties and autism. These organisations include The National Autistic Society and Scottish Autism.
Authors
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Elizabeth Shea
(Birmingham Food Refusal Services/The University of Birmingham)
Topic Area
Topics: Practice
Session
S7 » Symposia: Management of challenging behaviour; eating/feeding disorders (16:30 - Friday, 16th September, Tinto Room)
