Chewing Function in Pediatric Neuromuscular Disorders

Chewing Function in Pediatric Neuromuscular Disorders

We aimed to evaluate chewing function (CF) in children with neuromuscular disorders, and investigate reliability of the Karaduman Chewing Performance Scale (KCPS).

Chewing disorders (CD) can be seen due to muscle weakness in children with neuromuscular disorders neuromuscular disorders (NMD). Normal diet consists of all food consistencies including liquid, pudding and solid foods, and CD causes inability to intake solid food. This condition can affect development, nutritional behavior and child-parent interaction in children. Thus, it is important to determine CD in an early period with appropriate assessment methods and plan appropriate therapies in NMD. We aimed to evaluate chewing function (CF) in children with NMD, and investigate reliability of the Karaduman Chewing Performance Scale (KCPS).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children above the age of 2 years
• Children with neuromuscular disorders

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children under the age of 2 years
• Children without neuromuscular disorders