ARFID

Question 1

RATES of ARFID

Answer 1

Current research recognizes that autism is seen in those with ARFID at higher rates than the general population rate of 1.5%. Estimates of co-occurring ARFID and ASD range from 12.5% all the way up to 33.3% (Harris et al., 2019; Inouye 2021)

Question 2

ARFID AND ASD

Answer 2

One area in which there is an outwardly observable connection between ASD and ARFID presentations is sensory experiences. The sensory difficulties often experienced by individuals with autism and the sensory sensitivities found in many individuals with ARFID have strong parallels. Recent research has shown that children with autism display higher oral sensitivity, especially oral over-sensitivity, than children without autism (Chistol, 2018). This oral over sensitivity is also often seen in ARFID, where certain types and textures of food may feel disgusting, anxiety producing, or frightening to eat, due to their oral sensation (Harris et. al, 2019). Furthermore, some researchers hypothesize that ARFID patients with sensory sensitivity are not just “over-sensitive” to certain tastes, but that their taste perception is actually more intense—a mild tasting drink to you could taste very strong to someone with ARFID, not just “unfamiliar”. (Thomas et al., 2017).

Question 3

food dudes study