title: Reported eating ability of young children with cerebral palsy: is there an association with gross motor function?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between parent-reported ability of young children with cerebral palsy (CP) to eat different food textures and gross motor functional abilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, longitudinal, representative cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community and tertiary pediatric hospital settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children (N=170; 110 boys [65%]) were assessed on 396 occasions (range, 1-4 occasions), including 67 at 1 year 6 months (49 boys), 99 at 2 years (66 boys), 111 at 2 years 6 months (71 boys), and 119 at 3 years (64 boys).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable
  
  
  METHODS
  Gross motor function was determined using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Parent-reported eating ability was determined using 4 items of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory. The association between capability to eat food textures and GMFCS level was examined using generalized estimating equations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of GMFCS levels at initial presentation was as follows: I, n=62; II, n=32; III, n=24; IV, n=22; and V, n=30. Reported capability to eat cut-up/chunky and "all textures" of table foods decreased significantly as GMFCS level increased. A decreased capability to eat pureed/blended and ground/lumpy foods compared with GMFCS I was significantly associated with GMFCS levels IV and V only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reported attainment of eating skills was closely associated with GMFCS level in young children with CP across age levels. These results emphasize the need for early oral-motor and feeding screening in young children with CP across gross motor functional abilities.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia. k.weir1@uq.edu
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: Kristie L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caristo
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ware
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fahey
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rawicki
authors.forename: Roslyn N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index