Differential reinforcement of high rate behavior to increase the pace of self-feeding

Although numerous studies have examined treatments for increasing food consumption among children with pediatric feeding disorders, very few have examined treatment of other mealtime-related difficulties. One such problem is a slow pace of self-feeding, which can lead to caregivers failure to adhere to treatments or be disruptive to others. We examined the effects of a differential reinforcement of high rate (DRH) intervention to increase a 9-year-old boy's pace of self-feeding. During treatment, the child received reinforcement contingent on consuming his meal within 30 min. Results showed an increase in the pace of self-feeding and a concomitant decrease in meal duration as compared to baseline.