Investigation of Spoon-feeding Skills in Children with Cerebral Palsy and Typically Developing Children: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Aim: Mastering spoon feeding is a key developmental milestone typically achieved by age two, yet evidence comparing these skills between children with CP and typically developing (TD) peers is scarce, particularly in socio-culturally diverse contexts like India. This study aimed to compare spoon-feeding skills, including utensil use, in children with CP and TD children.

Methods: A validated questionnaire was developed to assess positioning, spoon characteristics (handle length, bowl depth), placement, normal/abnormal oral motor patterns, reflexes, and mealtime behaviours. Video recordings of naturalistic spoon-feeding sessions from 17 children with CP and 22 age-matched TD children (2-10 years) were analysed. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using chi-square tests.

Results: Significant inter-group differences were found in positioning, spoon characteristics, and spoon placement. All normal patterns except for maintained lip closure during swallowing differed significantly. Significant abnormal patterns included suckle-swallow, anterior spillage, head extension, tongue protrusion, and clearing with teeth. Mealtime problem behaviours did not differ significantly.

Conclusions: This study profiles distinct spoon-feeding patterns in children with CP versus TD children. These findings underscore the need to target these specific skills during feeding therapy for the CP population.

Limitations: The generalizability of findings is limited by the small sample size. Future research should explore regional variations within India and investigate how food consistency influences spoon placement.