Affiliation:
1. Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore Manipal Academy of Higher Education Karnataka Manipal India
2. Special Education and Communication Disorders (SECD) University of Nebraska‐Lincoln Lincoln USA
3. Hammel Neurorehabilitation Center and University Research Clinic, Department of Clinical Medicine Aarhus University Hammel Denmark
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundThe 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.ObjectiveThe 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.Methods327 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.ResultsAll 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.ConclusionTOMASS‐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.