Feeding Problems Of The Child With Special Health-Care Needs

Abstract

Abstract The nutritional health of an infant or child is determined by adequate intake of either food or other nutritional products by feeding and/or eating. The amount of food intake depends, in turn, on the infant’s ability to suckle, suck, progress to the cup and solid food, and eventually self-feed the recommended mix of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water. Infants and children with special health-care needs are frequently at risk for feeding problems that impact on their growth, energy needs, and immunity to disease. Other consequences of feeding problems include anemia, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, dental caries, developmental delays, and psychosocial problems. Feeding problems have been defined as the inability or refusal to eat certain foods because of neuromotor dysfunction, obstructive lesions, and/or psychosocial factors. Problems generally are classified as oral-motor, positioning, and behavioral. Feeding problems are frequently found in infants and children with cerebral palsy, cleft lip and palate, Down syndrome, seizures, spina bifida, prematurity, Prader-Willi syndrome, hypotonia, and other chronic medical disorders.1 Feeding problems should be assessed with an understanding of the normal development of feeding and the physical makeup of the mouth and pharynx.