Abstract

Background: One of the problems in children with cerebral palsy is impaired eating and drinking liquids. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of oral motor stimulations on feeding function in the children with spastic cerebral palsy by two medical and family centered approaches.

Materials and Methods: This research was a descriptive-analytical cross sectional study that performed on 40 children 2-8 year olds with spastic Cerebral Palsy from the rehabilitation clinics in the city of Arak. They were selected by simple and purposeful sampling. Applied instruments were Gross Motor Measure Function Classification System Expanded & Revised (GMFCS E&R) and oral motor assessment scale(OMAS). Data were analyzed by statistical tests such as: Kolmogorov-Smirnov, reporting mean, standard deviation, data analysis frequncy distribution table, independent t-test, dependent t-test, chi-square and MANOVA.

Results: The difference of swallowing function assessed by OMAS in both groups managed by family centered and clinician centered approach prior and post management statistialy was meaningful (p=0.001(. The difference between swallowing function of both groups post intervention was not meaningful in view of first and second assessor, also it had no statistical significance(p=0.89 , p=0.07)

Conclusion: In general, we can conclude that oral motor stimulation is effective on swallowing function of cerebral palsy children in both treated groups. The effect of these stimulations on swallowing function in children with cerebral palsy between clinician centered and family centered approaches was equal.