A Comparison of Plate A/Plate B, Taste Exposure Sessions, and Escape Extinction in Treating Food Refusal and Food Selectivity in Two Children With Autism

Many children diagnosed with autism display severe and pervasive food selectivity and food refusal that impact their daily life (Ahearn, Castine, Nault, & Green, 2001). Interventions for these feeding problems are most often implemented in hospital and clinic settings (Williams & Foxx, 2007). Research has shown escape extinction, repeated taste exposure, and a Plate A/Plate B arrangement to be effective in treating feeding disorders (e.g., Paul, Williams, Riegel, & Gibbons, 2007). The purpose of the current study was to compare the effectiveness of the Plate A/Plate B intervention with and without taste exposure sessions for 2 children diagnosed with autism who also display severe challenging behavior. The intervention evaluation was conducted in an educational and campus residential setting. Preliminary results indicate that neither Plate A/Plate B nor Plate A/Plate B plus taste exposure intervention were effective. Increase in bite consumption occurred when escape extinction was added for all bite presentations. Possible explanations for the results obtained will be discussed as well as recommendations for future research.