Behavioral Treatment for Aerophagia in a Typically Developing 3-Year-Old

Aerophagia is a functional gastrointestinal disorder involving swallowing excessive air, which is associated with gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and interference with dietary intake most commonly diagnosed among individuals with intellectual disabilities. Aerophagia is less common in typically developing children with gastrointestinal complaints and there is little previous research on successful behavioral interventions with this population. This case report illustrates an integrated behavioral approach to treating aerophagia in a typically developing 3-year-old with aerophagia that involved swallowing of emergent eructation. The family initially presented to an outpatient pediatric gastroenterology clinic. After diagnosis, the pediatric gastroenterologist referred the family to the integrated pediatric psychology service for behavioral intervention. Intake and intervention were brief, occurring over 3 outpatient sessions. Intervention included psychoeducation, selection of alternative behaviors incompatible with air swallowing, parental modeling, and systematic reinforcement. These procedures were feasible and acceptable for the family and referring provider and resulted in symptom remittance after 3 sessions, maintained at 6-month follow-up.