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Measuring feeding difficulties in toddlers with Down syndrome

Marijn van Dijk1, Wilma Lipke-Steenbeek2

  • 1Heymans Institute for Psychological Research, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Appetite
|March 31, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Caregiver reports using the Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale (MCH-FS) may help identify feeding issues in children with Down syndrome (DS). Higher scores correlated with more food refusal and negative mealtime behaviors.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Clinical Nutrition

Background:

  • Feeding problems are common in children, with a higher prevalence in those with Down syndrome (DS).
  • Early identification of feeding difficulties is crucial and can be aided by validated caregiver-reported screening tools.
  • Previous research established the concurrent validity of the Dutch Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale (MCH-FS) in typically developing toddlers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To replicate the concurrent validity of the Dutch MCH-FS in a pilot study involving children with Down syndrome (DS) and their caregivers.
  • To assess the association between caregiver-reported feeding problems and observed mealtime behaviors in children with DS.

Main Methods:

  • A pilot study involving 32 children with DS (aged 1;0-3;0) and their primary caregivers.
  • Caregivers completed the Dutch version of the MCH-FS (SEP).
  • Observed mealtime behaviors were recorded and analyzed in relation to SEP scores.

Main Results:

  • Children with DS in the sample did not score higher on the SEP compared to their respective norm groups.
  • A positive correlation was found between higher SEP scores (indicating more reported feeding problems) and increased instances of food refusal and negative affect during observed meals.
  • The screening instrument appears particularly sensitive to negative mealtime interactions in this population.

Conclusions:

  • The MCH-FS (SEP) shows potential as a screening tool for identifying feeding issues in young children with Down syndrome.
  • The findings suggest the MCH-FS is associated with negative mealtime interactions, differing from previous findings that emphasized eating skills.
  • Further research is warranted to fully understand the utility of the MCH-FS in the DS population.

Keywords:
Down syndromeFeeding interactionFeeding problemsMCH-FSObservationsScreening instrumentYoung children

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