1
Return

Electrical stimulation as a promising strategy to enhance feeding development in children with severe cerebral palsy

delete2026-03-01
delete0
PRE
AI
K
Kaczynska, Aleksandra *
S
Socha, Piotr
DOI:10.1002/jpn3.70413delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Objectives: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) IV-V commonly present with dysphagia that limits oral feeding and increases malnutrition risk. We evaluated whether adding transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation/neuromuscular electrical stimulation (TENS/EMS) to speech-language therapy (SLT) improves orofacial function and acceptance of more advanced food textures. Methods: Experimental study including 50 children aged 4-8 years with CP (GMFCS IV/V) and neurogenic dysphagia. Participants were allocated (concealed envelopes) to SLT alone (control) or SLT + TENS/EMS (experimental) in a random order. The intervention comprised three 5-day treatment cycles spaced 2 months apart. Each 30-min session included oral-motor exercises and texture advancement per the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI). TENS (50-100 Hz) and EMS (20-50 Hz) were applied to the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles. The primary outcome was IDDSI texture acceptance assessed at baseline (I1), mid-cycle (I2), and post-cycle (I3) by blinded evaluators. Results: The experimental group improved in mean IDDSI texture acceptance from 2.1 +/- 0.8 (I1) to 4.0 +/- 0.9 (I3), versus 2.0 +/- 0.7 to 2.8 +/- 0.8 in controls (p < 0.01). Advancement by two IDDSI levels occurred in 72% (18/25) of the experimental group compared with 28% (7/25) of controls (chi & sup2; = 10.36, p < 0.01). Conclusions: SLT augmented with TENS/EMS significantly enhances orofacial sensory-motor performance and tolerance of more complex food textures in children with severe CP. TENS/EMS appears to be a promising adjunct in pediatric feeding therapy; longer-term efficacy and nutritional outcomes warrant further study.
Keywords:
dysphagia
feeding therapy
International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative
orofacial function
speech-language therapy

Journal

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition cover
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
IF:
2.6
Papers:
250
Citations:
1.4W

Organization

C
Children's Memorial Health Institute
Scholars:
132
Papers: 62
Citations: 1.0K
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers