lNUTRITION IS CRITICAL FOR KIDS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

lNUTRITION IS CRITICAL FOR KIDS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

NUTRITION IS CRITICAL FOR KIDS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Difficulty using the lips, tongue and jaw is common in children with cerebral palsy, and this dysfunction, called oromotor dysfunction, can cause problems with feeding.  One study found oromotor dysfunction in 90% of babies and toddlers with cerebral palsy.  Sucking and swallowing problems are common, and many babies and young children need help with feeding.  Sometimes older children and adults also have difficulty eating.  These difficulties require caregivers to spend substantial time with oral feeding.  Some children may not receive enough food and nutrients if the time available for feeding is limited.

Problems with feeding affect how sick a child gets as well as how long the child will live, and this is especially true for children with severe cerebral palsy.  In addition, when a child has oromotor dysfunction, the child is more likely to aspirate and develop aspiration pneumonia, which can be fatal.  Children with cerebral palsy therefore require regular assessments of feeding skills and nutritional status, including weight and stature.  In children with growth failure or long term aspiration, alternative feeding methods must be considered.  This may include a feeding tube, which delivers food and nutrients to the baby or child through her stomach, thereby bypassing the child’s mouth.

Children with cerebral palsy should be compared to growth charts.  These charts tell parents and physicians what the normal weight is for a given child’s age; if the weight falls below a certain number, there is an increased risk of sickness and death.

The long term outlook for children with cerebral palsy is highly variable and it depends on the severity and type of cerebral palsy as well as the aggressiveness and quality of care the child receives.  It is crucial that every effort be made to keep a child healthy and active throughout her life.