OBJECTIVE. A structured intervention was used to teach chewing to two children with special needs. Neither child had a history of chewing or eating high-textured food.

METHOD. The intervention combined oral–motor and behavior components to teach chewing. A multiple baseline design was used to evaluate treatment effectiveness.

RESULTS. Both children improved their chewing skills while increasing the texture of foods eaten and the variety of foods eaten.

CONCLUSION. This structured intervention could be used to teach chewing to a range of children who did not acquire this skill during normal development.

Keywords:
chewing, food, oral motor function
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Copyright © 2008 by the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
2008
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