Preliminary Exploration of the Usability of a Structured Plate to Improve Eating Behaviors in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Its Impact on the Family: A Pilot Study

Brief Summary

This completed single-arm pilot study examined the usability of a structured plate during routine classroom mid-morning snacks in children with autism spectrum disorder and feeding difficulties. Six children aged 6-7 years used a plate with 10 compartments over eight weeks in a special education school in Zaragoza, Spain. Two trained school meal aides delivered the intervention five days per week under occupational therapy supervision. Caregivers completed the Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (PediEAT) and Feeding Impact Scales (FIS) before and after the intervention. Repeated structured observations described mealtime behavior and participation. The study also described implementation feasibility and exploratory pre-post changes; its uncontrolled design does not permit conclusions about efficacy. Changes from the original protocol are detailed in the Detailed Description.