Comportamento alimentar de crianças com transtorno do espectro autista (TEA)

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is manifested by delayed and confused language development, communication difficulties and social interactions, stereotyped changes, and sensory and behavioral difficulties. According to WHO worldwide, there are about 1 individual with ASD per 160 inhabitants. Most individuals with ASD are affected by eating problems, which negatively affect their health. To better understand the basis of these problems, it is important to assess eating behavior in this group. These processes are geared to the whole relationship and reaction of being with food. If exposed, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the eating behavior of children with ASD followed in a specialized institution. A cross-sectional, quantitative and qualitative research was conducted with 30 children up to 10 years of age, followed up in a specialized institution. For the present study, we used questionnaires about socioeconomic and demographic conditions, and focused on eating behavior. The research participant group is composed of 90% male children and only 10% female children. Among the results it was seen that among the subdivisions of eating behavior, which stood out as the food selectivity, which presented items with high frequency in the sample. Finally, it turns out that the presence of inadequate behaviors during mealtimes will occur, thus affecting the proper nutrient consumption, being necessary to apply nutritional strategys related to these behaviors, for correction of dietary errors and consequent improvements in health and lifestyle.