EFFECT OF GLOBAL INTENSIVE FEEDING THERAPY (GIFT) ON FEEDING AND MEALTIME BEHAVIOUR IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY- A Randomized Controlled Trial

Many children with cerebral palsy experience and struggle with feeding problems, which can lead to issues like poor growth, difficulty eating and frequent respiratory illnesses. These challenges are often due to sensory and motor issues which can make the mealtime frustrating for both the child and their family. Behavioural issues such as food refusal, gagging, and vomiting are common. Commonly used treatment for these children are the oromotor exercises but, they have limited scientific proof of effectiveness. A new program called GIFT (Global Intensive Feeding Therapy) will help in improving feeding skills in these children, and this study will assess its impact on feeding and mealtime behaviour.The children will be recruited and study will be explained to the parents.Demographic data will be recorded and pre-treatment assessment of feeding and mealtime behaviour will be done. Children in the Experimental group will be undergoing intensive rehabilitation i.e Global Intensive Feeding Therapy (GIFT). The intensive training will be performed by the therapist. Parents will be trained with specific techniques to use at home to help your child to generalize feeding abilities and mealtime behaviour during the first session. Control group will be undergoing Conventional oromotor exercises. Both the groups will be receiving the treatment 3times/day for 5 days in a week for 2 consecutive weeks. Outcome measures will be evaluated after the two-week treatment period and results will be calculated.