Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of picky eating/food selectivity in children with autism spectrum disorder.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenient sampling (technique). The Brief Autism Mealtime Behaviour Inventory (BAMBI) questionnaire was used as a tool. Data was entered and analysed on SPSS. The study was conducted in Rising Sun, the Institute of Special Children, the Children’s Hospital, Lahore. A total of 41 patients were selected. Children who were diagnosed with autism, who had developed feeding skills, age range of 3-15 years were included in this study.
Results: Results show that food selectivity is more commonly present in severe ASD and has maximum Mean±SD i-e 58.00 ± 8.18. Moderate ASD has mean ±S. D of 47.58 ± 7.93 and Mild ASD has mean ±S. D of 39.18 ± 6.82, with p-value of

Key words: Autism Spectrum Disorder, food selectivity, picky eating, eating habits.