WHAT CONSISTENCY OF FOOD IS BEST FOR CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL-PALSY WHO CANNOT CHEW

Video recordings were made of 67 children with cerebral palsy and 64 able bodied children eating soft boiled ('non-mashed') and mashed potato. Those children with cerebral palsy who had no speech, presumed to have poor oral motor function, took significantly longer to eat non-mashed than mashed potato. Children with cerebral palsy, especially those with no speech, were more likely to cough or choke while eating non-mashed than mashed potato. It is recommended that children with cerebral palsy who have poor oral motor function are offered food that they can eat with the least frustration or distress. This may also improve their dietary intake and state of nutrition.