Abstract
To solve feeding problems is very important for therapists. I treated infants with feeding problems, aged from 1 to 20 months old, based on the neurodevelopmental approach. The subjects were divided into two groups.
Group I ; children with the dysfunctions of central nervous system. (9 cases)
Group II ; children without the dysfunctions of central nervous system. (4 cases)
There were three causes of their problems,
1) Existence of abnormal muscle tone and postural-motor pattern
2) Insufficiency or lack of normal oral sensory-motor experiences, and
3) Abnormality of oral structure.
In the treatment, I inhibited abnormal postural-muscle tone and facilitated normal sensory-motor experiences. The treatment was performed on the basis of individual assessment.
As a result, seven of the Group I and all of the Group II could improve their oral motor function.
Through this treatment, the improvement of oral-motor function needs total approach to not only oral part but head, trunk... that is whole body (especially for the Group I). And we also have to pay attention to the secondary problems of the children of Group II.
