Assessment of feeding and mealtime behavior problems in persons with mental retardation.

Connell et al. (2004) wrote a narrative review about feeding problems in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They looked at past work to show why both doctors and behavior analysts must check mealtime issues together.

The paper does not test new data. It stitches medical and behavioral views into one checklist you can use today.

The review found that feeding trouble is rarely just behavior. Pain, reflux, allergies, or medication side effects can hide behind refusal or packing.

When teams only treat the top behavior, the real cause stays and the problem returns. Joint exams stop this loop.

Williams et al. (2023) later mapped the feeding-intervention studies that grew from this call. Their 2023 review shows the field now tests telehealth and caregiver coaching, ideas barely mentioned in 2004.

MWFaught et al. (2021) give you a quick tool, the MCH-FS, to spot feeding issues in toddlers with ASD. This tool turns the 2004 broad advice into a five-minute screen you can hand to parents.

Milane et al. (2025) list the BAMBI and BPFAS as the most used ASD feeding scales. These tools did not exist when E et al. wrote, so the 2004 paper set the need and later work built the kit.

Bertelli et al. (2025) stretch the view to adults, finding binge-eating signs in one of four adults with ID. Their data say the 2004 child focus still matters, but screening must continue across the lifespan.

Before you write a behavior plan for food refusal, ask the nurse or doctor to rule out pain, constipation, or medication effects. Use the MCH-FS or BAMBI to score the issue, then share the numbers with the team. This one extra step can save weeks of failed treatment and keep clients safe.