ABSTRACT

Year : 2022  |  Volume : 6  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 70

Physiotherapy in Neurological Conditions: AB No: 153: Effect of Integrated Approach in Feeding Difficulties in Children with Developmental Delay: Case Series

Madhulika Sethiya¹, Narkeesh Arumugam^2
1 Meera physiotherapy Centre
² Punjab University, Patiala

Correspondence Address:

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

DOI: 10.4103/2456-7787.361083

Background: Feeding difficulty is an umbrella term that comprises of all feeding problems, leading to substantial consequences especially in GDD children. As, persistent feeding difficulty will lead to nutritional deficiency and may aid to lack of activeness & hamper bodily growth of a child so an integrated approach towards better management of such children will be of great benefit. Purpose: Purpose of this paper is to present an integrated approach towards assessment & management of children with feeding difficulties in GDD (Global developmental delay). Participants: Ten GDD kids with 1–3 years of age group have been taken, ruling out any specific feeding disorder. Methods: Total twenty kids (age group 1 to 3 years) were examined out of which 12 were selected for the present study, in between two kids dropped out, so total 10 kids were taken for the present study. Participant’s parents are asked to answer several question using PediEAT (PEDIATRIC EATING ASSESSMENT TOOL). Various parameters i.e., physiologic symptoms, problematic mealtime behaviour, selective/restrictive eating and oral processing were measured on PediEAT scale. Data was collected and analysed using SPSS version 16 at 0.05 level of significance. Implications: As a pediatric physiotherapist dealing with kids require a wide vision that looks into the problem as a whole & uses a management strategy that integrates all the aspect of development (In relation to feeding). Result: The 10 children with age 1–3 years were analysed using Wilcoxon’s test and found to have significant difference between PRE and POST values of PediEAT scale with p value of 0.005 having Mean difference and SD of 304.5 and 35.86 respectively. Conclusion: The study concludes that integrated approach (using oromotor therapy, cranial osteopathy, tapping, sensory play, body alignment, rainbow food in diet, parental counselling & use of assistive devices) proved to be highly significant in GDD children with feeding difficulties.

Keywords: Feeding difficulties, Feeding assessment, integrated management approach