Test of mastication and swallowing solids in healthy individuals aged 6 to 20 years: A normative study in an Indian context

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Oral Rehabilitation

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.

DOI

10.1111/joor.13741

Publication Date

1-1-2024

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