The effect of techniques used to promote mouth closure on drooling and speech of young children with cerebral palsy
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Abstract
The efficacy of a feeding program using oral facilitation techniques to promote mouth closure to decrease drooling and increase vocalizations in two cerebral-palsied two-year-old males was explored. A single subject ABA experimental design was repeated across the subjects. Baseline 1 consisted of half-hour sessions during which the subjects were fed applesauce and apple juice without treatment. A one hour play session followed during which saliva was collected on an absorbent bib and weighed. Vocalizations produced by the subjects during a 15 minute period following feeding were recorded and counted. A 12 session phase followed which was identical to the baseline except that oral motor treatment was implemented. Treatment consisted of techniques to reduce tactile hypersensitivity before feeding and the application of jaw control during feeding. Baseline 2 consisted of 7 sessions identical to Baseline 1. Data were analyzed using graphic analysis and the celeration line method. Results relative to saliva weights for Subject 1 were difficult to interpret due to the low number of observations collected and instability of baseline data, but a decrease in drooling seemed to occur during the intervention phase as compared to the baseline. A significant decrease in drooling was observed in Subject 2 during the intervention phase. There was no apparent treatment effect on the number of bilabial vocalizations produced by either subject.
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Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University
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