Development of Medication Administration Protocols for In-Home Pediatric Feeding Cases.
One intensive home visit can teach autistic kids with feeding disorders to accept every medicine form and flavor.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Taylor (2023) worked with two autistic kids who refused medicine.
The team ran a home-based ABA program in one long session.
They taught the kids to swallow liquids, chewables, gummies, and nine flavors using praise and escape extinction.
What they found
Both kids met every goal in the first visit.
They later took all forms and flavors with no fight.
Parents kept the gains without extra training.
How this fits with other research
Swaim et al. (2001) first showed parents can run escape-extinction feeding sessions at home. Tessa adds medicine to the same model.
Scott et al. (2024) meta-analysis says mixing escape and non-escape extinction beats either alone. Tessa’s protocol uses both, matching that advice.
Volkert et al. (2025) proved day-treatment weans kids from feeding tubes for years. Tessa brings the same intensity into living rooms, but for pills instead of food.
Why it matters
You can copy this one-session plan for any child who gags on medicine. Bring nine flavors, four forms, and five cups or spoons. Run escape extinction with praise. Send the parent a simple data sheet. Most kids will swallow everything before you leave.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Medication administration can be a significant issue in pediatric populations, and especially with patients with developmental disabilities and comorbid feeding disorders. Research has focused largely on consumption of solids rather than medication and liquids in pediatric feeding programs, with most studies being conducted within specialized hospital settings in the United States. No studies to our knowledge have detailed treatment evaluations for medication administration in pediatric feeding except for a few studies on pill swallowing. We report results of treatment protocols for medication administration using empirically-supported treatments in a short-term intensive home-based behavior-analytic program in Australia. Two males with autism spectrum and pediatric feeding disorders participated. We used a multiple baseline single-case experimental design for medication administration conducted concurrently with a treatment evaluation for solid foods. Consumption increased in number (9; supplements, laxatives, pain relievers), flavors (8; chocolate, blackcurrent and apple, strawberry, lemon-lime, orange, chocolate-vanilla, cherry, apple), forms (4; thin and thick liquids, chewables, gummies), and delivery methods (5; finger-fed, spoon, cup, medicine spoon, medicine cup) within the first treatment session. For one participant, we taught open cup drinking for a variety of liquids (milk, juices, medications). For both participants, we taught self-feeding with utensils for thick liquid medications. Treatment results were similar for solids and participants increased food variety to over 160 across food groups. All goals were met including training parents to maintain gains at home.
Behavior modification, 2023 · doi:10.1177/01454455221113558