Test of mastication and swallowing solids in healthy individuals aged 6 to 20 years: A normative study in an Indian context.
J Oral Rehabil
; 2024 May 20.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38767112
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The Test of Mastication and Swallowing Solids (TOMASS) is a reliable tool for assessing chewing and swallowing in healthy adults, using commercially available crackers. TOMASS-Children (TOMASS-C) is the paediatric version of TOMASS.OBJECTIVE:
The present study aimed to establish normative data for TOMASS-C using a validated regional commercial cracker among healthy individuals aged between 6-20 years of India.METHODS:
327 healthy individuals between 6-20 years were recruited in a cross-sectional study design following a convenient sampling procedure. Participants consumed one validated regional cracker and the procedure was video recorded. Data were stratified according to age groups (6-7, 8-9, 10-13, 14-17 and 18-20 years) and sex (boys and girls). Two Speech Language Pathologists independently analysed the video recordings to derive discrete bites, masticatory cycles, swallows and total swallow time indices. Using them, time/swallow, masticatory cycles/bite, swallows/bite and time/bite were calculated.RESULTS:
All parameters of TOMASS-C had moderate to good (0.6-0.85) test-retest reliability and moderate to excellent (0.69-0.99) inter-rater reliability at p > .000. Younger participants took more bites, chewed more times and swallowed more frequently with longer chewing and swallowing time. Boys exhibited a lower number of swallows, shorter swallow time and reduced total masticatory time at p > .05. Additionally, girls demonstrated fewer bites and chewing cycles compared to boys at p > .05.CONCLUSION:
TOMASS-C using a validated regional cracker was feasible and reliable. Normative data established for healthy boys and girls between 6-20 years offers much-needed quantitative data to objectively delineate individuals with and without chewing and swallowing solid food difficulties.
Full text:
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
J Oral Rehabil
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: