Treating food refusal in a child with Williams syndrome using the parent as therapist in the home setting

The present authors examined the effectiveness of a behavioural intervention which included escape extinction and differential reinforcement of each bite eaten to treat non-organic food refusal in a child with Williams syndrome. The intervention was implemented by the child's mother in the home during normal meal schedules. The child was not allowed to leave the meal situation for a predetermined time period and was praised by the mother for each bite consumed. The intervention was evaluated using a multiple baseline design across meals (i.e. breakfast and lunch). The results demonstrate an increase in food consumed and decreases in other inappropriate behaviours. The mother continued to implement the treatment successfully during follow-up assessments up to 3 months after the intervention. This is a minimally intrusive intervention in comparison to typical treatments for non-organic food refusal in children with intellectual disabilities.