I have to disagree with that there is no point force feeding. I know it sounds awful and it's not for every child but it DID work for us and I honestly feel we had exhausted the other options and my son's health was slipping away. I wont go into the details here but I do like to put it out there as an option to explore. Truly resistant eaters are very misunderstood, it is like infant anorexia and it's very, very hard to deal with.
Meow it sounds like your son was very much medically at risk. There is a link between anorexia and ASD. With an eating disorder though, force feeding is a last option and used when the person is medically at risk (as it sounds your son was). I'm not sure how you force fed and I truly do not hold any judgement, I have seen many families at this point and grew up with a brother who had a VERY restricted diet and my mum tried force feeding (it didn't work). The way I would go about it (and many may consider this force feed but I personally don't) is gradual exposure. Therefore choosing one food, then choosing a reward (eg a fav food he only gets in relation to 'trying new food', a special toy, etc). First the goal would be (if his reaction is to even not go near new foods or accept them on his plate) is have the new food on his plate, then touch, then smell, then touch his lip, lick and so on. I would keep a chart and he can put a picture or photo of the new food up when he has actually tried it and get a really big reward.
Overall, any feeding program should be under the guidance of a doctor to ensure the child is medically healthy. I have seen children go a very long time without food and drink just to avoid eating a new food and so medical guidance is important. Children with ASD are likely to go a lot further than another child and defy the 'they will eat when they are hungry' rule. With that said, I have recommended that approach before when a child was only accepting a few foods.
I guess what I'm trying to say (and I don't think it is coming across very well so I do apologise) is that every child will be different and it is not always easy to make the right choice. Meow, for your son it sounds like the idea of a new food was the problem (I may be wrong, what do you think?) and in this case I can see where forced feeding could work, however; if it is a texture issue I'm not sure it would (Tony Attwood has some info on this).
*I'm wondering if we have different ideas of what forced feeding is. I am not thinking don't offer any other food than what the rest of the family is having (I have used this approach before). Force feeding to me would be sitting on child and making them eat/try new food or a nasal gastric tube. Anyway just wanted to check, I am thinking we actually may be on the same page?
I'm not sure what else I can really add... but here goes...
DS1 (5) has ASD (Autism) SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) Developmental delays a severe speech disorder and a LOT of issues with eating (sensory mainly, but he also plainly refuses to eat at times). We pushed for a diagnosis because we were struggling to cope. Getting a diagnosis has been the best thing for him, we have received a lot of help as a family and he has received a lot of help as an individual. Therapy wise he does regular speech and OT plus 4 hours a week one-on-one with a therapy assistant (she works through the therapy goals with him). He does see the physio occasionally and a dietician helps to keep an eye on his diet. We have a meeting every school term with a child psychologist and all his therapists, teachers, EAs etc to make sure everyone is on the same page as far as his schooling and development goes.
Have you tried letting him eat off your plate? Sometimes our food looks better There's also a book, I was made aware of this morning, Deceptively Delicious. All about hiding vegies in foods, like broccoli in chocolate!
DS2 also has a diagnosis of SPD, however it's not something we pushed for, it was more accidental. DS2 comes to DS1's OT appointments and it was there that DS2 was referred to the OT for his own issues (he's an avoider, just shuts down when things get overwhelming for him). Having the diagnosis has made no difference, but he is not in school yet (3 in June) so we are doing OT and probably speech (again) for the time being to hopefully prepare him better for Kindy in 2014.
If you aren't already then I suggest seeing an OT, or in the very list jumping on the waiting list. An OT will be able to help with the sensory things.
EK thanks for your post. Yes, I have tried since he was 14 months old to share what I eat with him. If he hasn't eaten what he was served he is always offered what other people have. It's never worked. I've certainly tried everything there is.
I've actually spoken with a MCHN who is going to do the brigance test with him and I'll also be getting the names of local OT's etc who are actually local. It's SUPER hard to find anyone where I live (well, there are actually no medically trained professionals where I live, I travel the 70-80km drive into the nearest large regional city to see anyone.... and even then they only have 2 pediatricians.).
Just don't want to sit on my hands when I could be doing something. DS and I are always doing something - reading eggs on the computer, or getting out some workbooks, or getting outside with DD and being messy, playing with the dog, going for walks and riding bikes etc. I feel like I do all I possibly can and it still doesn't really help IYKWIM. We've taken him on picnics, I've been getting him to help me cook. We're growing our own vegetable garden, we have fruit trees. We have sheep in the paddocks. He knows where most of his food comes from. I have his kinder teacher helping him at kinder and they've been learning about 'good' and 'not so good' foods at kinder. They've had tasting sessions where he's held some fruits/veggies in his hands, but refuses to touch the 'slimier' types. I continually offer him what he needs to be eating, but no luck yet. I won't give up and I'l keep trying.
These posts have been great! Thanks every much everyone, I really appreciate it.
Yeah, I don't think all the 'usual' stuff with these kids. We did all the same things with growing, cooking, offering, etc etc etc.
FWIW a medically trained professional wont be able to help you much usually as they don't have training in nutrition. If you can find a naturopath or dietician who is versed in GAPS they will be able to explain what is going on for you. There are many who do phone/skype consults.
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There's also a book, I was made aware of this morning, Deceptively Delicious. All about hiding vegies in foods, like broccoli in chocolate!
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