Sara is a 4-year-old girl who has the diagnoses of prematurity, cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, chronic lung disease, and seizure disorder. She presents with low muscle tone in the trunk and increased muscle tone in all four extremities. She is unable to sit without support and uses a wheelchair that places her upright with hips at a 90-degree angle, and her head, neck, and trunk are well supported. Given her motor impairments, Sara primarily uses a suckle pattern with bottle-feeding and takes purées by spoon. She is dependent for self-feeding and is held by her mother for meals. She occasionally takes some higher textures such as soft dissolvables. An occupational therapy evaluation finds Sara functioning at an 18-month level for fine motor and cognition. Oral phase swallowing characteristics include an elevated and retracted tongue, slow bolus formation, and lack of tongue mobility. Sara loves to eat but vomits frequently. Her mother reports coughing and occasional choking during meals. There has been slow weight gain, and weight has now plateaued.
-To advance Sara's oral motor skills for improved tongue mobility and temporomandibular joint strength, the clinician would incorporate the following intervention techniques:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using all of the above techniques would be the best choice as they each target different aspects of Sara's oral motor skills. The chewy tube can help increase jaw strength, the Nuk brush can improve tongue mobility and jaw strength, and the cutout cup can increase lip closure and decrease suckle patterns. By incorporating all of these techniques, Sara can receive a well-rounded intervention plan for her oral motor skills.

Sara Is a 4-Year-Old Girl Who Has the Diagnoses of Prematurity