The Effect of Food Textures on Intake by Mouth and the Recovery of Oral Motor Function in the Child with a Severe Brain Injury

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different food textures on the amount of food intake by mouth and the recovery of oral motor function in children after acquired brain injury. The subjects were three children aged 3, 12, and 14 years with severe brain injury. A single case study with a Latin square design was used to randomly allocate three different food textures (puréed, minced, and soft) for each of three daily meals for up to 11 days per child. The primary outcomes were the amount of food intake by mouth and oral motor function, as measured by the Behavioral Assessment of Oral Functions in Feeding. Results indicated that texture and the person feeding the child are important variables for intake. The most clinically important conclusion was that the variability in each child with acquired brain injury reinforces the need for an individualized approach to decisions and treatment for feeding.

Key Words:

• Acquired brain injury
• children
• feeding
• food texture
• food consistency
• head injury
• single case
• n of 1 design

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carol Dematteo

Michael Lepp, PT, is in private practice, Associate Instructor of the Upledger Institute, and Clinical Instructor, Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, Cleveland, OH.

Marie McKenzie, MS, OTR, is in private practice. She was Coordinator of Occupational Therapy at Scottish Rite Hospital at the time of this study.

Heather Miller, MS, OTR/L, is currently employed by Madison County Educational Service Center, providing therapy services to the county's pre-schools. This research was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements of an MS degree at Ohio State University.

Linda Viscardis, BA, is Team Leader and Community Development Worker, Peterborough Family Enrichment Centre. She is Co-Founder of P.R.O.S.P.E.C.T.S., a support and advocacy group for families who have children with special needs.

Debra Stewart, BSc, OT(C), is Occupational Therapist, Erinoak, Serving Young People with Physical Disabilities, Mississauga, ON, and Clinical Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University.

Janette McDougall, MA, was Project Coordinator

Kip Husted, BEd, was a parent representative on the study team.

Aviva Yochman, MA, OTR, was a student in the School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel at the time of this study.

Imelda Burgman, MA OTR/L BCP, completed her MA in Movement Sciences at Teachers College, Columbia University, and was an Occupational Therapist at The Shield Institute, Bronx, NY. She is currently Lecturer, Habilitation, School of Community Health, Faculty of Health Studies, Charles Sturt University, Albury, N.S.W., Australia.

Barbara J. Steva, OTWL, BCP, is Occupational Therapist, University of New England Community Occupational Therapy Clinic, Saco, ME. She was Director of Occupational Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation, Franciscan Children's Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Boston, MA, when this work was completed.