[Effect of rehabilitation of the feeding function on the development of visual-motor coordination and speech in children with infantile cerebral palsy].

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of rehabilitation of feeding function on eye/hand coordination and speech development in cerebral palsied children. The analysis included 28 children with tetraplegic form of cerebral palsy. Age of these children was from 12 to 48 months (in one case 6 months, the other case 6 years). In the first examination, standard deviations in independent feeding function (according to "feeding test") were established as well as the level of eye/hand coordination and speech development (according to Denver Developmental Screening Test). All cerebral palsied children from examined group have had specific helping-exercises according to the method based on normal stages of feeding development. Second examination was performed from 7 to 24 months from the beginning of rehabilitation. The comparative group consisted of 14 children with tetraplegic form of cerebral palsy in this group there were no specific exercises. The parents took them home after short time of stay at the Rehabilitation Department on the basis of the above examinations both group were compared (results presented in the diagrams). It was found, that the method of rehabilitation of feeding function is very useful. Good oral feeding patterns are an essential basis for the skill of muscles and their speech sounds production. Correct position and feeding on self are important for the development of eye/hand coordination. Summing up, rehabilitation of the feeding function should be an integral part of the general problem of rehabilitation of cerebral palsied children.