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Nutrition Interventions for Children with Special Health Care Needs

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Chapter 23<br />

Section 3 - Condition Specific <strong>Nutrition</strong> <strong>Interventions</strong><br />

<strong>Nutrition</strong> <strong>Interventions</strong> <strong>for</strong> autism<br />

Spectrum Disorders<br />

Betty Lucas, MPH, RD, CD<br />

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is the broad category of developmental disorders<br />

<strong>with</strong> primary impairment in social development. The ASD spectrum includes: Autistic<br />

Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise<br />

Specified (PDD-NOS), Rett’s Disorder, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (1). The<br />

prevalence of ASD is about 1 in 91 children (based on a 2007 parent survey), which<br />

is higher than in the past (2). It occurs more in males than females, approximately<br />

75 percent have some cognitive delay (children <strong>with</strong> Asperger’s have normal IQs),<br />

and about 30 percent eventually have seizure disorders. Although the specific<br />

etiology of ASD is not known, about 10-15 percent may be related to genetic<br />

disorders. Future research will yield more in<strong>for</strong>mation on the causes of ASD.<br />

Although children <strong>with</strong> ASD reflect a wide range of behaviors and severity, ASD is<br />

identified by behavioral features in three categories:<br />

• Impaired social interactions<br />

• Impaired verbal and nonverbal communication<br />

• Restricted and/or repetitive behaviors<br />

Common behaviors in children <strong>with</strong> ASD include: difficulty <strong>with</strong> transitions, impaired<br />

communication skills, social interaction difficulties, easily overwhelmed or overstimulated,<br />

short attention span, limited range of interests, and need <strong>for</strong> routine.<br />

Since there are no biological markers <strong>for</strong> autism, diagnosis is made by behavioral<br />

assessment. Red flags identified by screening children under 3 years of age include<br />

problems <strong>with</strong> eye contact, joint attention, nonverbal communication, pretend play,<br />

paying attention to one’s name, and language development, as well as regression<br />

in skills. If screening is positive, a comprehensive evaluation is indicated, including<br />

medical, cognitive, and communication assessments. With diagnosis of ASD, referral<br />

should be made <strong>for</strong> early intervention services, special education, and related<br />

therapies, such as speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, and behavior<br />

management (3).<br />

<strong>Nutrition</strong> <strong>Interventions</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Children</strong> With <strong>Special</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Care</strong> <strong>Needs</strong> 263

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