Katherine A. Benfer

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Gross Motor Skills in Children With Cerebral Palsy

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) and its subtypes (oral phase, pharyngeal phase, saliva control), and their relationship to gross motor functional skills in preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP). It was hypothesized that OPD would be present across all gross motor severity levels, and children with more severe gross motor function would have increased prevalence and severity of OPD. METHODS: Children with a confirmed diagnosis of CP, 18 to 36 months corrected age, born in Queensland between 2006 and 2009, participated. Children with neurodegenerative conditions were excluded. This was a cross-sectional population-based study. Children were assessed by using 2 direct OPD measures (Schedule for Oral Motor Assessment; Dysphagia Disorders Survey), and observations of signs suggestive of pharyngeal phase impairment and impaired saliva control. Gross motor skills were described by using the Gross Motor Function Measure, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Manual Ability Classification System, and motor type/ distribution. RESULTS: OPD was prevalent in 85% of children with CP, and there was a stepwise relationship between OPD and GMFCS level. There was a significant increase in odds of having OPD, or a subtype, for children who were nonambulant (GMFCS V) compared with those who were ambulant (GMFCS I) (odds ratio = 17.9, P = .036). CONCLUSIONS: OPD was present across all levels of gross motor severity using direct assessments. This highlights the need for proactive screening of all young children with CP, even those with mild impairments, to improve growth and nutritional outcomes and respiratory health.

Clinimetrics of measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia for preschool children with cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental disabilities: a systematic review.

Aim  The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties and clinical utility of objective measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in children with cerebral palsy or neurodevelopmental disabilities aged 12 months to 5 years.

Longitudinal cohort protocol study of oropharyngeal dysphagia: relationships to gross motor attainment, growth and nutritional status in preschool children with cerebral palsy

Introduction The prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is estimated to be between 19% and 99%. OPD can impact on childrens growth, nutrition and overall health. Despite the growing recognition of the extent and significance of health issues relating to OPD in children with CP, lack of knowledge of its profile in this subpopulation remains. This study aims to investigate the relationship between OPD, attainment of gross motor skills, growth and nutritional status in young children with CP at and between two crucial age points, 18–24 and 36 months, corrected age. Methods and analysis This prospective longitudinal population-based study aims to recruit a total of 200 children with CP born in Queensland, Australia between 1 September 2006 and 31 December 2009 (60 per birth-year). Outcomes include clinically assessed OPD (Schedule for Oral Motor Assessment, Dysphagia Disorders Survey, Pre-Speech Assessment Scale, signs suggestive of pharyngeal phase impairment, Thomas-Stonell and Greenberg Saliva Severity Scale), parent-reported OPD on a feeding questionnaire, gross motor skills (Gross Motor Function Measure, Gross Motor Function Classification System and motor type), growth and nutritional status (linear growth and body composition) and dietary intake (3 day food record). The strength of relationship between outcome and exposure variables will be analysed using regression modelling with ORs and relative risk ratios. Ethics and dissemination This protocol describes a study that provides the first large population-based study of OPD in a representative sample of preschool children with CP, using direct clinical assessment. Ethics has been obtained through the University of Queensland Medical Research Ethics Committee, the Childrens Health Services District Ethics Committee, and at other regional and organisational ethics committees. Results are planned to be disseminated in six papers submitted to peer reviewed journals, and presentations at relevant international conferences.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy: Oral phase impairments

PURPOSE This study aimed to document the prevalence and patterns of oral phase oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP), and its association with mealtime duration, frequency and efficiency. METHODS Cross-sectional population-based cohort study of 130 children diagnosed with CP at 18-36 months ca (mean = 27.4 months, 81 males) and 40 children with typical development (mean = 26.2, 18 males). Functional abilities of children with CP were representative of a population sample (GMFCS I = 57, II = 15, III = 23, IV = 12, V = 23). Oral phase impairment was rated from video using the Dyspahgia Disorders Survey, Schedule for Oral Motor Impairment, and Pre-Speech Assessment Scale. Parent-report was collected on a feeding questionnaire. Mealtime frequency, duration and efficiency were calculated from a three day weighed food record completed by parents. Gross motor function was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). RESULTS Overall, 93.8% of children had directly assessed oral phase impairments during eating or drinking, or in controlling saliva (78.5% with modified cut-points). Directly assessed oral phase impairments were associated with declining gross motor function, with children from GMFCS I having a 2-fold increased likelihood of oral phase impairment compared to the children with TD (OR = 2.0, p = 0.18), and all children from GMFCS II-V having oral phase impairments. Difficulty biting (70%), cleaning behaviours (70%) and chewing (65%) were the most common impairments on solids, and difficulty sipping from a cup (60%) for fluids. OPD severity and GMFCS were not related to mealtime frequency, duration or efficiency, although children on partial tube feeds had significantly reduced mealtime efficiency. CONCLUSIONS Oral phase impairments were common in preschool children with CP, with severity increasing stepwise with declining gross motor function. The prevalence and severity of oral phase impairments were significantly greater for most tasks when compared to children with typical development, even for those with mild CP. Children who were partially tube fed had significantly lower feeding efficiency, so this could be a useful early indicator of children needing supplementation to their nutrition (through increasing energy density of foods/fluids, or tube feeds).

Clinical signs suggestive of pharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy

This study aimed to determine the discriminative validity, reproducibility, and prevalence of clinical signs suggestive of pharyngeal dysphagia according to gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). It was a cross-sectional population-based study of 130 children diagnosed with CP at 18-36 months (mean=27.4, 81 males) and 40 children with typical development (TD, mean=26.2, 18 males). Sixteen signs suggestive of pharyngeal phase impairment were directly observed in a videoed mealtime by a speech pathologist, and reported by parents on a questionnaire. Gross motor function was classified using the Gross Motor Function Classification System. The study found that 67.7% of children had clinical signs, and this increased with poorer gross motor function (OR=1.7, p<0.01). Parents reported clinical signs in 46.2% of children, with 60% agreement with direct clinical mealtime assessment (kappa=0.2, p<0.01). The most common signs on direct assessment were coughing (44.7%), multiple swallows (25.2%), gurgly voice (20.3%), wet breathing (18.7%) and gagging (11.4%). 37.5% of children with TD had clinical signs, mostly observed on fluids. Dysphagia cut-points were modified to exclude a single cough on fluids, with a modified prevalence estimate proposed as 50.8%. Clinical signs suggestive of pharyngeal dysphagia are common in children with CP, even those with ambulatory CP. Parent-report on 16 specific signs remains a feasible screening method. While coughing was consistently identified by clinicians, it may not reflect childrens regular performance, and was not sufficiently discriminative in children aged 18-36 months.

Validity and reproducibility of measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy

The aim of the study was to determine the best measure to discriminate between those with oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) and those without OPD, among young children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Motor Severity in Children With Cerebral Palsy Studied in a High-Resource and Low-Resource Country

OBJECTIVES: To compare the patterns of motor type and gross motor functional severity in preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Bangladesh and Australia. METHODS: We used comparison of 2 prospective studies. A total of 300 children with CP were aged 18 to 36 months, 219 Australian children (mean age, 26.6 months; 141 males) recruited through tertiary and community services, and 81 clinic-attendees born in Bangladesh (mean age, 27.5 months; 50 males). All children had diagnosis confirmed by an Australian physician, and birth and developmental history collected on the Physician Checklist. All children were classified by the same raters between countries using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and motor type and distribution. RESULTS: There were more children from GMFCS I–II in the Australian sample (GMFCS I, P < .01; III, P < .01; V, P = .03). The patterns of motor type also differed significantly with more spasticity and less dyskinetic types in the Australian sample (spasticity, P < .01; dystonia, P < .01; athetosis, P < .01). Birth risk factors were more common in the Bangladesh sample, with risk factors of low Apgar scores (Australia, P < .01), lethargy/seizures (Australia, P = .01), and term birth (Bangladesh, P = .03) associated with poorer gross motor function. Cognitive impairments were significantly more common in the Bangladesh children (P < .01), and visual impairments more common in Australia (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of functional severity, motor type, comorbidities, etiology, and environmental risk factors differed markedly between settings. Our results contribute to understanding the patterns of CP in low-resource settings, and may assist in optimizing service delivery and prioritizing appropriate early interventions for children with CP in these settings.

Food and fluid texture consumption in a population-based cohort of preschool children with cerebral palsy: Relationship to dietary intake

To determine the texture constitution of childrens diets and its relationship to oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD), dietary intake, and gross motor function in young children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Longitudinal Study of Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Preschool Children With Cerebral Palsy.

OBJECTIVES To determine changes in prevalence and severity of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and the relationship to health outcomes. DESIGN Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING Community and tertiary institutions. PARTICIPANTS Children (N=53, 33 boys) with a confirmed diagnosis of CP assessed first at 18 to 24 months (Assessment 1: mean age ± SD, 22.9±2.9 mo corrected age; Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS]: I, n=22; II, n=7; III, n=11; IV, n=5; V, n=8) and at 36 months (Assessment 2). INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES OPD was classified using the Dysphagia Disorders Survey (DDS) and signs suggestive of pharyngeal dysphagia. Nutritional status was measured using Z scores for weight, height, and body mass index (BMI). Gross motor skills were classified on GMFCS and motor type/distribution. RESULTS Prevalence of OPD decreased from 62% to 59% between the ages of 18 to 24 months and 36 months. Thirty percent of children had an improvement in severity of OPD (greater than smallest detectable change), and 4% had worse OPD. Gross motor function was strongly associated with OPD at both assessments, on the DDS (Assessment 1: odds ratio [OR]=20.3, P=.011; Assessment 2: OR=28.9, P=.002), pharyngeal signs (Assessment 1: OR=10.6, P=.007; Assessment 2: OR=15.8, P=.003), and OPD severity (Assessment 1: β=6.1, P<.001; Assessment 2: β=5.5, P<.001). OPD at 18 to 24 months was related to health outcomes at 36 months: low Z scores for weight (adjusted β=1.2, P=.03) and BMI (adjusted β=1.1, P=.048), and increased parent stress (adjusted OR=1.1, P=.049). CONCLUSIONS Classification and severity of OPD remained relatively stable between 18 to 24 months and 36 months. Gross motor function was the best predictor of OPD. These findings contribute to developing more effective screening processes that consider critical developmental transitions that are anticipated to present challenges for children from each of the GMFCS levels.

The eating and drinking ability classification system in a population-based sample of preschool children with cerebral palsy

To determine (1) the reproducibility of the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS); (2) EDACS classification distribution in a population‐based cohort with cerebral palsy (CP); and (3) the relationships between the EDACS and clinical mealtime assessment, other classifications, and health outcomes.