Age-based norm-reference values for the Child Oral and Motor Proficiency Scale.

AIM: To determine reference values for the Child Oral and Motor Proficiency Scale (ChOMPS) based on healthy, typically developing and typically eating children between six months and seven years old. METHODS: Parents of children six months to seven years old (n = 1057) completed the 63-item ChOMPS. Median, range, 5th and 10th percentiles were calculated for scores on the four subscales of the ChOMPS as well as the total score in each of 11 age groups. RESULTS: Age-based norm-reference values are reported. By 24 months, 95% of children could perform all skills in the Basic Movement Patterns subscale. By four years, more than 95% of children could perform all of the skills in the Fundamental Oral-Motor Skills subscale. The Oral-Motor Coordination and Complex Movement Patterns skills developed later. By five years, 90% of children could perform all Oral-Motor Coordination skills. In six to seven year olds, 95% received a score of 44 of 46 on the Complex Movement Patterns subscale, indicating that some typical children had not established all of these complex skills by seven years. CONCLUSION: The ChOMPS is the first valid and reliable parent-report measure of eating, drinking and related skills that has age-based norm-reference values for use in clinical practice and research.