Helping a Person With Cerebral Palsy Eat
Sometimes people with
cerebral palsy have problems trying to eat. Problems
may include:
- Coughing and choking, which can lead to breathing
problems or
pneumonia if food is inhaled into the
lungs.
- Poor jaw control, making it difficult to
chew.
- Difficulty sucking and swallowing.
You can help your child with cerebral palsy eat more easily
by:
- Providing appropriate utensils, such as special
plates and large-handled spoons.
- Serving oatmeal, pudding, mashed
potatoes, and other semisolid foods.
- Placing the child in a secure
sitting position for eating. Bring his or her arms toward his or her chest to
prevent the child from getting into a position that will make feeding and
swallowing more difficult (such as arching the back and throwing the head
backward).
- Holding one hand against the child's cheek to help him
or her open and close his or her mouth if jaw control is a problem.
Feeding tubes
A person with severe cerebral palsy
may need a feeding tube in order to eat. For short-term use, the tube is placed
into the nose and passed into the stomach. For long-term tube feeding, a tube
can be placed directly into the stomach through an opening in the abdomen
(gastrostomy tube).
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics |
| Last Revised | September 20, 2012 |