Investigation of the relationship between sensory processing skills, feeding behaviors and occupational performance in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

Dur study was organized to examine the relationship between sensory processing skills, feeding behaviors and occupatioanl performance in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 150 children participated in the study. The Sensory Processing Measure Home Form, the Canadian Activity Performance Measurement, Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory, Psychometric Properties of the Screening Tool of Feeding Prooblems and The Feeding Strategies Questionnaire was applied to the participants. Significant impairment found more in total score of sensory processing. The average occupational performance of the participants was found 7.43±3.14. In our study, the most problematic areas were found the food selectivity and feeding skills. It was found that the participants had a higher association in touch sensory processing and limited nutritional values (r=0.363; p<0.001), body awareness and nutrient rejection (r=0.553; p<0.001), body awareness and autism-specific behavioral values (r=0.461; p<0.001). COPM performance was associated with higher hearing values(r=-0.368; p<0.001) and COPM satisfaction values were associated with higher hearing (r=-0.365; p<0.001). Total sensory processing was associated with the child's control during eating (r=-0.238; p=0.003), and body awareness was associated with coercive interventions (r=0.307; p<0.001) areas higher. There was no statistically significant relationship between family control of eating, meal time and release child and sensory processing skills (p>0.05). There was a higher correlation between nutrition skills and hearing (r=0.207; p=0.011), food-related behavioral problems and social values (r=0.293; p<0.001). There was no statistically significant relationship between aspiration risk and Deciency-related behavioral problems and sensory processing skills (p>0.05). When creating an intervention plan for children diagnosed with ASD with nutritional problems, more effective strategies can be targeted in this area by focusing on sensory processing, feeding behavior and occupation.