Eating Disorders and Autism
90% of children diagnosed on the autism spectrum suffer from various eating disorders. Many parents encounter the refusal of their children to try and taste new things. The difficulty can be more challenging and even cause anxieties and frustrations which in turn will affect the attachment of the baby to the parents in particular and to the environment in general. The assumption is that due to the primacy of the need to eat and the communicative elements involved, basic anxieties intensify in communication and affect other areas of functioning. This is often a complex daily struggle.
During treatment at The Mifne Center, a central emphasis is placed on eating and feeding without stress. The main assumption is that the more the infant's confidence level increases, the more his curiosity increases and gradually trust is built.
The infant is encouraged by the stimulation of new sensations in taste, smell and touch. As resistance and tension decrease, eating behavior improves and also has an effect on general functional development as a result of the improvement in eating disorders. This work is done simultaneously with both the infant and the parents.