Kebiasaan makan pada anak gangguan spektrum autisme

Abstract

Abstract: Autism or Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder which is marked as disorders in communication and social interaction, and repeated behavior. The causes of autism are not clear yet, however, genetic, environmental, and immunological factors might have some roles in the occurence of autism. Autistic children usually have different eating habits, such as eating the same kind of food for a pretty long time. Autistic children should be given gluten free, casein free, and additive substance free diets since this can improve their hyperactivity. This study aimed to obtain the eating habits of autistic children in several schools in Manado. There were 33 respondents who filled questionnaires about the eating habbit of their autistic children. The results showed that there were 10 children (30.1%) who frequently consumed gluten; 18 children (54.6%) who rarely consumed gluten; and 5 children (13.2%) who did not consume gluten. About casein consumption, there were 10 children (30.1%) who frequently consumed casein, 12 children (36.4%) who rarely consumed casein, and 11 children (33.4%) who did not consume casein. About additive substance consumption, there were 6 children (18.2%) who frequently consumed additive substances; 17 children (51.6%) who rarely consumed additive substances; and 10 children (30.1%) who did not consume these additive substances.

Keywords: autism, eating habit

Abstrak: Autisme pada anak atau Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) merupakan gangguan perkembangan yang ditandai dengan gangguan komunikasi, gangguan interaksi sosial, dan perilaku berulang. Penyebab autisme belum diketahui pasti. Diduga faktor genetik, lingkungan, dan sistem imun berperan pada terjadinya gangguan ini. Anak autis biasanya memiliki kebiasaan makan yang berbeda, seperti sering memakan jenis makanan yang sama secara berulang-ulang dalam waktu yang cukup lama. Kebiasaan makan ini dapat berpengaruh pada perbaikan perilaku anak autis. Pada anak autisme biasanya diterapkan makanan bebas gluten, kasein, dan zat aditif karena dapat membantu perbaikan hiperaktivitas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kebiasaan makan pada anak autis di beberapa Sekolah Luar Biasa di Manado. Terdapat 33 responden yang mengisi kuesioner tentang kebiasaan makan anak autis. Hasil penelitian mendapatkan 10 anak (30,1%) sering mengonsumsi gluten, 18 anak (54,6%) jarang mengonsumsi gluten, dan 5 anak (13,2%) tidak mengonsumsi gluten. Mengenai konsumsi kasein dari 33 responden terdapat 10 anak (30,1%) sering mengonsumsi kasein, 12 anak (36,4%) jarang mengonsumsi kasein, dan 11 anak (33,4%) tidak mengonsumsi kasein. Mengenai bahan aditif, 6 anak (18,2%) yang sering mengonsumsi zat aditif, 17 anak (51,6%) jarang mengonsumsi zat aditif, dan 10 anak (30,1%) tidak mengonsumsi zat aditif.

Kata kunci: autisme, kebiasaan makan