Chewing Performance Level and Gross Motor Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Descriptive characteristics including age, height and weight were recorded. Chewing performance level was determined with the Karaduman Chewing Performance Scale (KCPS). Each child was placed in a sitting position (either on a chair or on his/her mother's arm) with the head upright and with the midline position and arms and legs supported, and required to bite and chew a standardized biscuit, and no clue was given on how to chew. The physical therapist rated the chewing performance according to the KCPS. All children underwent a physical examination by a physical therapist to determine gross motor function by applying the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). In addition to GMFCS, number of affected limbs of the children was also noted.