Asma Khan2026-07-302026-07-302025https://escholar.umt.edu.pk/handle/123456789/20020Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects brain development and is often marked by challenges in communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. Kids with ASD also often show unusual patterns in how they process sensory information, which can really affect their eating habits. One of the key eating challenges seen in autistic children is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). This disorder is defined by a very selective nature towards food, where kids avoid or limit what they eat, but it isn't tied to concerns about body image. While research has shown a connection between sensory processing and ARFID worldwide, there's a lack of evidence specifically from Pakistan. So, this study set out to explore how sensory processing might predict ARFID behaviors in autistic kids in Lahore, Pakistan. We used a cross-sectional quantitative research design for our study. It focused on school-aged autistic kids who were selected from special education schools and autism centers in Lahore using purposive sampling. For data collection, we used a structured demographic questionnaire, the Short Sensory Profile-2 (SSP-2) to look at sensory processing in different areas, and a standardized ARFID screening tool to evaluate feeding and restrictive eating behaviors. We analyzed the data using SPSS, using descriptive statistics to find out how common certain issues were. We also ran inferential tests like chi-square and regression analyses to look at the links between sensory processing and ARFID symptoms. The research showed that a large number of autistic kids displayed ARFID behaviors, like having a limited variety of foods, having strong preferences, and turning down foods because of their texture, smell, or appearance. When we looked at different sensory areas, the Low Energy/Weak pattern stood out as the strongest link to ARFID, with a significant statistic (p < 0.05). Kids who had low stamina, weak muscle tone, and got tired easily were much more likely to show restrictive eating habits. On top of that, we found that Sensory Sensitivity was also related to ARFID behaviors, where kids were really responsive to textures and smells, which led to some food refusals. Regression tests backed up the idea that sensory issues, especially in the Low Energy/Weak category, were strong indicators of ARFID behaviors. The research shows that how kids with autism in Lahore process sensory information is really important for understanding their avoidant and restrictive eating habits. A key takeaway is that the Low Energy/Weak area can help predict feeding issues, highlighting the need to think about things like motor skills and sensory sensitivities when planning interventions. This has real-world implications for clinicians, therapists, and teachers, stressing the importance of early screening, sensory-focused interventions, and culturally appropriate feeding methods to assist autistic children and their families in Pakistan. The worldwide studies has shown that the children of xii Autism Spectrum disorders are often contain more sensory difficulties to some of them are hypersensitivity, sensation seeking , some are hypoactive they are affected in any of these sense and shown a atypical behavior while responding to different activities and eating behaviour as well their sensory challenges are often marked by the influence of their food choices due to food smell , taste , textures and temperature, repetitive behaviors due to Austistic traits which are leads to and are strong predictor of Avoidant Restricted food intake disorders making them picky eaters. The research has significantly both statically and by questionarre has show that the low energy week , Tactile 2 of 7 sensory profile behavior jas strongly predict the relationship with ARFID and there are strongly relationship with positive mean the more higher ARFID score the more chances to have Sensory Difficulties childrens with Lower Short Sensory profile score has shown that they are higher chances of ARFID in children with Autistics traits while showing atypical perofmas while the higher score of SSP mean lower chances of ARFID in autism spectrum disorders children. They shown the statically correlation between ARFID and Sensory profile abnormalities mean more sensory difficulties mean more chances to have ARFID the study shown the Higher risk should be determine make them assessment to provid and prevent the Health and nutritional Difficulties in Autism Spectrum disorders whereas the sensory profile and sensory effects and their respective therapies , food related behavior therapy should be done with help of Nutritionist , Psychiatrics and physiotherapist to make them off from higher risk of nutritional difficines with early detection of these senses issue in short The sensory profile are strong predictor of Avoidant restricted food intake disorders in Autistic children age between 2-18 years and intervention related to These behavior could emphasize and tailored role of ARFID in these childrenen-USThesis