Mothers' Challenges in Feeding their Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder-Managing More Than Just Picky Eating

Mothers' perspectives of the processes involved in addressing the feeding challenges of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were explored qualitatively. The research question was: What is the process of mothers' feeding their children with an ASD who have feeding challenges, and specifically what is the nature of these challenges? Data were from semi-structured interviews with 11 mothers of 12 children with ASD ranging from 4-11 years. This grounded theory study used constant comparative analysis in developing categories to define the processes mothers used in understanding and then meeting the feeding needs of their children with ASD. Four feeding processes emerged from the analysis. 1) recognizing the feeding challenges, 2) defining the underlying nature of the feeding challenges, 3) seeking support for and validation of the feeding challenges, and 4) staging their approach. The feeding challenges had three different patterns of onset and went beyond typical picky eating behaviors.