Oral-motor functions and gross motor abilities in spastic cerebral palsy

Background: The oral- motor dysfunction in cerebral palsy(CP) has a wide base of importance as oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) which is a major risk factor for morbidity in this population. It leads to the inability to consume sufficient food and fluids safely and is associated with prolonged mealtimes, poor growth and nutrition and respiratory consequences from oropharyngeal aspiration. Aim: to determine relation between oral motor dysfunction and Gross motor development in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Design: Correlational study Setting: Outpatient clinic, National Institute of Neuromotor System, Giza, Egypt. Materials and Methods: One hundred children with different types of spastic CP participated in the study and their ages ranged from 1 year– 4 years. The oral motor functions and gross motor abilities were evaluated using Schedule for Oral motor assessment (SOMA) and gross motor functional measure scale (GMFM) respectively. Results: It was found a strong positive significant correlation between total score of SOMA and total score GMFM (r=0.51, p=0.0001).There were positive significant correlation between SOMA categories and GMFM, as between GMFM scale and puree there was (r=0.48; P<0.05), GMFM scale and semi-solids (r=0.44; P<0.05), GMFM scale and solid (r=0.40; P<0.05), GMFM scale and cracker (r=0.37; P<0.05), and GMFM scale and cup (r=0.21; P<0.05). While, no significant correlation between GMFM scale and bottle (r=0.11; P>0.05), GMFM scale and trainer-cup (r=0.15; P>0.05). Conclusion: There was a strong correlation between oral motor functions and gross motor abilities in children with spastic CP