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The effect of oral sensorimotor stimulations on feeding performance in children with spastic cerebral palsy
Maryam Kaviyani Baghbadorani1, Zahra Soleymani2, Hooshang Dadgar3
1Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. kaviyani85@yahoo.com.
Insights
Oral sensorimotor stimulation improved feeding skills in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). While beneficial, progress varied, suggesting the need for complementary strategies to enhance feeding performance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neurology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Feeding difficulties are prevalent in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- Oral-motor dysfunction is a significant contributor to these feeding challenges.
- Effective interventions are crucial for improving nutritional intake and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of oral sensorimotor stimulations on the feeding performance of children with spastic cerebral palsy.
- To assess improvements in specific oral motor skills related to feeding.
- To determine the efficacy of sensorimotor stimulation as a therapeutic approach.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 12 children diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy participated.
- Participants received 24 sessions of oral-motor stimulations over 8 weeks.
- Feeding skills were quantitatively assessed using the Oral Motor Assessment Scale (OMAS) at intervals.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in various feeding skills, including mouth closure, lip seal on utensils, and control during swallowing.
- Enhanced abilities in mastication and straw suction were noted.
- Mouth closure showed greater improvement compared to straw suction, indicating differential effects of the intervention.
Conclusions:
- Oral sensorimotor stimulation demonstrates utility in addressing feeding problems in children with spastic cerebral palsy.
- The intervention yields positive but not complete results, highlighting the complexity of feeding disorders.
- Factors such as positioning and cognitive skills may influence outcomes, necessitating integrated therapeutic strategies.
Abstract:
Oral feeding difficulties are common in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The effect of oral-motor dysfunction on feeding problems has been proved in several studies. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of oral sensorimotor stimulations on feeding performance in children with spastic cerebral palsy. A total of 12 children with spastic cerebral palsy underwent 24 sessions of oral-motor stimulations (3 days per week). The effect of the intervention was assessed after the 12 and 24 sessions. Feeding skills were assessed using Oral Motor Assessment Scale (OMAS). Data were analyzed using Friedman test and intra class correlation coefficient (ICC). The results of the study revealed a significant improvement in feeding skills including mouth closure, lip closure on the utensil, lip closure during deglutition, control of the food during swallowing, mastication, straw suction and control of liquid during deglutition. There were more improvement in mouth closure and less in straw suction. This study showed sensorimotor stimulation is useful for the treatment of the feeding problems, but the progress was not perfect. This could be due to the role of the position and cognitive skills in feeding functions. Thus, other strategies should be considered to achieve more improvement in feeding performance.
