Age-based norm-reference values for the Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool

• Published in: Pediatric research Vol. 84; no. 2; pp. 233 - 239
• Main Authors: Pados, Britt F., Thoyre, Suzanne M., Park, Jinhee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.08.2018; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Age; Clinical Research Article; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pediatric Surgery; Pediatrics
• ISSN: 0031-3998; 1530-0447
• DOI: 10.1038/s41390-018-0067-z

Background and objectives Differentiating problematic feeding from variations of typical behavior is a challenge for pediatric providers. The Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (PediEAT) is a parent-report measure of symptoms of problematic feeding in children 6 months to 7 years old with evidence of reliability and validity. This study aimed to determine age-based, norm-referenced values for the PediEAT. Methods Parents of children between 6 months and 7 years old ( n  = 1110) completed the PediEAT. Descriptive statistics were calculated for subscale and total scores of the PediEAT within 11 age groups. Results The PediEAT total scores followed a general downward trajectory with increasing age. Physiologic Symptoms were relatively steady from 6 to 15 months, and then rapidly declined in 15–18 month olds and continued to decline thereafter. Problematic Mealtime Behaviors increased from 6 to 9 months to a peak in 24–30 month olds and then declined with increasing age. Selective/Restrictive Eating increased from 6 to 9 months to a peak at 12–15 months and then decreased over time thereafter. Symptoms of difficulty with Oral Processing were highest in 6–9 month olds and decreased with age. Conclusions The PediEAT now has age-based norm-reference values to guide score interpretation and clinical decision-making.