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Many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have mealtime problems. Diagnosis and the social environment may influence eating behaviours. We examined whether children with ASD have more mealtime problems than their typically developing siblings, and whether age and sex are associated with mealtime problems. Forty-eight families participated in this cross sectional study by completing a questionnaire (Eating Profile) for their child with ASD, 3 to 12 years of age. A second Eating Profile was completed for the sibling nearest in age without ASD. Children with ASD had a mean of 13.3 eating problems, with lack of food variety predominating. Siblings had 5.0 problems. Children with ASD had more eating problems as infants. Older children tended to have fewer problems than younger children. This study points to the importance of screening for mealtime problems. Children with ASD had significantly more mealtime problems than their sibling living in the same social environment. (Contains 2 figures and 3 tables.)

This paper explores the design of a Web-based tutorial for Activity Analysis offered within an undergraduate course of occupational therapy and how its design features influenced meaningful learning from the students' perspective. This tutorial, using a case-based format, offers a learner-directed approach to students and the application of Activity Analysis, a clinical practice tool. The design is based on principles of meaningful learning for on-line instruction (Jonassen, "Educational Technology," 35, 60-63, 1995) and instructional theories. Analysis of feedback from learners identifies the salient attributes of the tutorial on meaningful learning.

Feeding problems are common even in typically developing infants and children. However, they are more frequent and persistent in children with developmental disabilities. This article will provide an overview of current literature and a rationale underlying the interventions used for children with cerebral palsy (CP) who have eating impairments (dysphagia). The review is not intended to be exhaustive, but papers were selected that highlight some of the issues and challenges of the field. Normal oral-motor development is briefly discussed to show how it may inform clinical practice in the understanding of feeding problems. Description of the risk factors and the nature and extent of eating impairments will show how interventions need to be specific to the severity of eating impairments. Examination of sensorimotor therapies, using oral stimulation exercises or an intra-oral appliance, will highlight the range of their effectiveness, as well as their limitations. Similarly, an examination of tube feeding, used for nutritional rehabilitation of the most severely affected children, will address the benefits, controversies as well as moral issues encountered by caregivers and professionals. Multi-center studies will be needed to obtain more homogeneous samples, large enough to address questions of early interventions and their subsequent effect on later development.

Pediatric occupational therapists (n=59) were surveyed to identify assessments to evaluate functional performance that accommodate special needs of children with pervasive developmental disorders. Fifty-two assessments were identified. The study highlights the need for practice parameters that would guide the assessment process and create consensus among therapists. (Contains 42 references.) (JOW)