Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between parent-reported ability of young
children with cerebral palsy (CP) to eat different food textures and gross motor
functional abilities. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal, representative cohort
study. SETTING: Community and tertiary pediatric hospital settings. PARTICIPANTS:
Children (N=170; 110 boys [65%]) were assessed on 396 occasions (range, 1-4
occasions), including 67 at 1 year 6 months (49 boys), 99 at 2 years (66 boys),
111 at 2 years 6 months (71 boys), and 119 at 3 years (64 boys). INTERVENTIONS:
Not applicable MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gross motor function was determined using
the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Parent-reported eating
ability was determined using 4 items of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability
Inventory. The association between capability to eat food textures and GMFCS
level was examined using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: The distribution of GMFCS levels at initial presentation was as follows: I, n=62; II,
n=32; III, n=24; IV, n=22; and V, n=30. Reported capability to eat cut-up/chunky
and "all textures" of table foods decreased significantly as GMFCS level
increased. A decreased capability to eat pureed/blended and ground/lumpy foods
compared with GMFCS I was significantly associated with GMFCS levels IV and V
only. CONCLUSIONS: Reported attainment of eating skills was closely associated
with GMFCS level in young children with CP across age levels. These results
emphasize the need for early oral-motor and feeding screening in young children
with CP across gross motor functional abilities.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS