Managing Feeding in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Introduction

Eating

Eating is one of the fundamental processes in life. We can define it as a process for which all living entities consume different types of food with the objective of receiving necessary nutrients to survive.
But eating is much more than just consuming food. It is a moment of communication, of transmission of traditions, culture and transfer of affection. Sharing food with others is a human activity with important significance, one of them is the integration of the family and to a social group.
When this is not possible or it is difficult because a member of the group has specific problems with eating, the process of inclusion of the child to the family and community might not go smoothly. This is why that one of the main objectives for parents is to find a positive and easy way to feed their child.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move. It is due to damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth.
Cerebral palsy affects people in different ways and can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance. Although cerebral palsy is a permanent life-long condition, some of these signs of cerebral palsy can improve or worsen over time.
People who have cerebral palsy may also have associated problems such as respiratory difficulties, Dysphagia, cognitive difficulties etc.

How can we classify Cerebral Palsy?

1. According to muscle tone (state of permanent contraction of the muscle).

• Hypertonia (rigid limbs)
• Hypotonia (limbs and trunk with low muscle tone, often involving reduced muscle streng.

2. According to topographical distribution. Diplegia, hemiplegia, quadriplegia