Investigation of Feeding Skills in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Retrospective Study

F Getcy Bebayal,K B Joanna,M Kusuma,N Swapna,Darshita Kumaresan,N Priyanka,Gayathri Krishnan,Sindhusha Chandran

doi:10.4103/jisha.jisha_54_24

F Getcy Bebayal, K B Joanna + Show 6 more

https://doi.org/10.4103/jisha.jisha_54_24

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Abstract Introduction: Feeding and swallowing are vital for children’s nutrition, growth, and development but can be disrupted by oral motor or sensory issues, which are estimated to affect approximately 80% of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Methods: A retrospective study analyzed data from 104 pediatric patients who underwent feeding assessments at the center for swallowing disorders, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, between February and September 2024. The cohort included 50 children with cerebral palsy (CP), 17 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and 37 with intellectual disabilities (ID). This study examined functional feeding skills using the Functional Feeding Assessment-modified (FFAm). Results: In children with NDD, chewing skills were most affected in normal patterns, whereas straw drinking was predominantly impaired in abnormal patterns. Among specific conditions, children with CP showed the greatest impairment in chewing for normal patterns and swallowing for abnormal patterns. In children with ASD, straw drinking was the most affected skill across both normal and abnormal patterns. For children with ID, chewing was most impaired in normal patterns, whereas straw drinking was the most affected in abnormal patterns. When comparing across NDD conditions, children with CP exhibited the most significant impairments across all feeding domains in normal patterns and most abnormal patterns, except biting. However, children with ID showed similar impairments in the spoon-feeding and straw-drinking domains, and biting issues were prominently associated with abnormal patterns. Conclusion: This study is the first to examine feeding skills using FFAm in various NDDs, including ASD and ID, addressing a gap in evidence. Despite an adequate overall sample size, variations in sample sizes across conditions may limit the generalizability of the findings.

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