Helping a person with cerebral palsy eat
Sometimes people with cerebral palsy have problems trying to eat. Problems may include:
- Coughing and choking, which can lead to breathing problems or pneumonia if food is inhaled into the lungs.
- Poor jaw control, making it difficult to chew.
- Difficulty sucking and swallowing.
You can help your child with cerebral palsy eat more easily by:
- Providing appropriate utensils, such as special plates and large-handled spoons.
- Serving oatmeal, pudding, mashed potatoes, and other semisolid foods.
- Placing the child in a secure sitting position for eating. Bring his or her arms toward his or her chest to prevent the child from getting into a position that will make feeding and swallowing more difficult (such as arching the back and throwing the head backward).
- Holding one hand against the child's cheek to help him or her open and close his or her mouth if jaw control is a problem.
Feeding tubes
A child with severe cerebral palsy may need a feeding tube in order to eat. If a feeding tube is needed for only a short period of time, it is inserted into the child's nose and passed into the stomach. For long-term tube feeding, a tube can be placed directly into the stomach through an opening in the abdomen (gastrostomy tube).
Recent research showed that introducing a feeding tube to a severely affected child improved the quality of life for both the child and family in more than 90% of those studied.1
| Author: | Sabra L. Katz-Wise Ralph Poore | Last Updated: November 20, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics | |
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