The relationship between oral reflexes status and the number of affected limbs in children with spastic cerebral palsy

  Introduction: Cerebral palsy is a motor disorder caused by non-progressive brain damage due to the incidence of lesions in the central nervous system and usually is associated with other disorders. Abnormal reflexes such as abnormal oral reflexes are common in spastic cerebral palsy. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between oral reflexes and the number of affected limbs in these children.   Materials and methods: Forty-five children with spastic cerebral palsy (four and two limbs affected 5-10 years) were participated in this study. Oral reflexes including lip, tongue, rooting, biting, chewing, swallowing, suckling, gag, open of mouthing were evaluated through direct assessment and observation. Inclusion criteria were: no sign of visual, auditory, intelligence and oral structure (such as cleft palate) problems.   Results: Results showed an existence of abnormal oral reflexes in two groups. There was a significant relationship between the number of affected limbs (two and four limbs) and the frequency of abnormal biting, tongue, and swallowing reflexes, such that frequency of these abnormal reflexes are higher in four affected limb children than two affected ones. No significant relationships were found in other oral reflexes and number of affected limbs.   Conclusion: Findings of this study indicated an existence of abnormal oral reflexes in two groups. Given that these reflexes affect on feeding and articulation, it is necessary to use an earlier and suitable interventions for appropriate development of these reflexes via rehabilitation procedures.