OT and Eating Dysfunction

Occupational Therapy and
Eating Dysfunction
(position Paper)
T
he American Occupational Therapy Association • Initiating treatment to normalize impairments
(AOTA) asserts that occupational therapy is an in oral facial sensitivity.
essential service for the comprehensive man- • Inhibiting abnormal oral-motor and/or pos-
agement of eating dysfunction. Eating is a significant tural reflexes and facilitating age-appropriate
performance area of daily liVing skills throughout a responses to promote function.
person's life. The Uniform Terminology System for • Introducing compensatory techniques to mini-
Reporting Occupational Therapy Services refers to mize the effects of Visual-perceptual problems
eating/feeding as "the skill and performance of se- that affect eating performance.
quentially feeding oneself, including sucking, chew· • Using developmentally appropriate activities to
ing, swallowing, and the manipulation of appropriate facilitate the dynamic and static postural con-
utensils" (AOTA, 1986, p. VIII.13). Many problem trol necessary for eating.
areas within the person's environment affect the eat- • Addressing functional activities to increase
ing/feeding process, including deficits caused by range of motion, coordination, strength, and
sensorimotor, perceptual, neurological, cognitive, or prehension necessary for self-feeding.
psychosocial factors. Feeding is the process of getting • Addressing cognitive issues to ensure that safe
food to the mouth, while eating is the process of eating practices are followed.
moving food from the mouth to the stomach. Al- • Encouraging socially appropriate eating behav-
though occupational therapy has a critical role in the iors and activities.
treatment of psychosocial eating disorders and related • Using specialized seating and orthoses to
behavior problems, that role will not be addressed in achieve appropriate positioning, prOViding
this paper. functional equipment or utensils to assist with
The ability to feed oneself independently in self-feeding, and devising adaptations for pa-
order to meet nutritional needs is assessed and tients dependent on life-support systems or en-
treated by the occupational therapist. Aspects of the vironmental controls.
physical and social environment that affect feeding
performance are addressed. Reinstitution of oral Occupational therapy is a qualified and valued
feeding in persons nourished by prolonged nonoral service in the management of eating dysfunction.
methods (e.g., central venous nutrition, nasogastric Through collaboration with other professionals, occu-
feeding, gastrostomy) is facilitated. Occupational pational therapists promote maximal independence
therapists differentiate eating difficulties intrinsic to in all components of eating.
the patient, such as dysphagia, from those that involve
the caregiver's knowledge and skill.
Reference
Eating functions are complex and require com-
prehensive assessment and treatment. Advanced edu- American Occupational Therapy Association. (1986).
cation and clinical practice are essential prerequisites Uniform terminology system for reporting occupational
for using specialized evaluations such as videofluo- therapy services. In Reference manual of the offiCial docu-
roscopy and techniques such as complex oral motor ments afThe American Occupational Therapy Association,
facilitation. Occupational therapy assessment and Inc. (pp. VIII.12-VIII.18). Rockville, MD: Author.
treatment focuses on the following areas:
Prepared by members of the Commission on Practice with contri-
• Treating impairments of tone, strength, coordi- butions from Annette van Boldrick, OTR, Marcia S. Cox, OTR/L, Mar-
nation, and movement patterns of the muscles ilyn Dennis Daniel, MPA, OTR, Mary Godfrey, oTR,janis Hunter, OTR,
Christy L. A. Nelson, MS, OTR, Lillian Hoyle Parent, MA, OTR, FAOTA,
of the face, lips, jaw, tongue, and pharynx to Margaret Phillips, MS, OTR, Dianna Puccetti, OTR, and Laura
attain the oral-motor control necessary to ma- Schllller, OTR, for the Commission on Practice (L. Randy Strickland,
EdD, OTR, FAOTA, Chair)
nipulate and swallow various textured foods
Approved by the Representative Assembly April 1989
and liquids.
The Americanjournal of Occupational Therapy 805
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Occupational Therapy and

The Americanjournal of Occupational Therapy 805

Downloaded From: http://ajot.aota.org/ on 02/14/2018 Terms of Use: http://AOTA.org/terms

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