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Pediatric occupational therapists (n=59) were surveyed to identify assessments to evaluate functional performance that accommodate special needs of children with pervasive developmental disorders. Fifty-two assessments were identified. The study highlights the need for practice parameters that would guide the assessment process and create consensus among therapists. (Contains 42 references.) (JOW)

The article presents a case study of a twelve year ten month old girl with cerebral palsy and moderate ingestive disorder which showed a normalizing effect on mouth muscles by the Innsbruck Sensorimotor Activator and Regulator (ISMAR) therapy. Greater efficiency in spoon-feeding, biting, chewing, clearing, straw drinking and eating pureed and viscous food were noticed. Proper application of the therapy could lead to good progress in developmental motor skills.

Discusses the prevalence of swallowing disorders in elderly persons. Information on the types of assessments used to assess difficulties in the oral pharyngeal and esophageal phases of swallowing; What the therapists involved in this process should be aware of.

Feeding behaviors were measured during six feeding sessions distributed throughout a 24-hr period in 10 normal 3-day-old female infants. Infants were individually videotaped during feeding sessions at 13:00, 17:00, 21:00, 01:00, 05:00, and 09:00 hours. Total mealtime, nutritive sucking time, pause time, number of nutritive sucks, and amount of nutrient consumed were measured. None of these feeding variables were affected by the time of day an infant was fed. Maternal interactions with their infants such as auditory stimulation, caretaking touches or tender touches were unaffected by the time of a feed. These maternal behaviors did not correlate with any of the feeding variables. These findings suggest that 3-day-old infants experiencing routine nursery care do not express specific day-night feeding differences and that certain maternal behaviors do not influence the infants' feeding pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quick method using structured visual observation of infant sucking is described and validated by videotape comparison. Correlation between the two methods was highly significant, suggesting that structured visual observation may aid the clinician to quickly determine infant feeding performance. Such information may be helpful when assistance with feeding is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucking is a rhythmical motor activity seen in most term newborns during the first hour of life. Large differences exist in nutritive sucking among clinically normal neonates. Feeding behaviors were measured during six feeding sessions distributed throughout a 24-hour period in ten normal three-day-old female infants. Optimal (n = 5) and sub-optimal (n = 5) subjects were selected on the basis of volume intake since birthweights were comparable. Formula consumption, nutritive sucking count and pause time were greater and there was a strong tendency toward a longer nutritive sucking time the optimal compared to the sub-optimal group. No differences were found in total meal time. Volume intake did not correlate with birthweight. Thus, significant differences exist in the organization of feeding during the early postnatal period. Whether these findings are indicative of subtle neurologic differences needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]