Oral Exploration of Objects and Food Diversification
Condition: Infant Development
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Eating difficulties in infants and young children are defined as all the difficulties in
      feeding oneself in an appropriate and satisfactory manner. These disorders affect
      approximately 20 to 25% of infants and young children, and thus constitute one of the most
      frequent reasons for consultation in these age groups. Many of these children continue to be
      received in consultation.

      Studies show that the lack of intraoral exploration in children could be associated with
      later difficulties in accepting different textures or new foods. Our clinical examination of
      sensorimotor functions shows signs of sensory hyper reactivity that are very common in
      children who always wipe their hands when in contact with food or sticky objects and for
      those who experience difficulty in brushing or grooming themselves.

      In all of the publications available which includes pubmed, there is no mention of the lack
      of exploration of objects and the stigma of sensory hyper-responsiveness even if this latter
      was not entirely detailed in the descriptions made.

      The trial hypothesis is that this exploration defect corresponds to early sensory
      hyperreactivity which also plays a deleterious role in the acceptance of new textures and new
      foods.

      In this trial we propose a comparison study with a controlled population of children without
      eating difficulties as defined by the Montreal MCH score to validate a statistical link
      between the difficulties in food diversification beyond 18 months and the lack of exploration
      of the environment with 'mouthing' between 6 and 10 months.

      Investigators will analyse consultation questionnaires dedicated to eating difficulties
      retrospectively (patients) and will compare them with questionnaires of children from
      daycares without eating difficulties (controls).
    

Detailed description: 
      To conduct this study the controls will be recruited from daycares and different nursery
      schools after agreement with the heads of establishments.

      Two questionnaires along with an information note will be distributed to the parents and will
      be completed in a non-identifying manner, retrieved by the teachers and then sent to the
      principal investigator.

      The questionnaires include the validated Montreal HME questionnaire which will detect the
      possible existence of eating difficulties and a more general questionnaire on the psychomotor
      development of the child (not validated because a qualitative questionnaire without a score).
      The collection of data will be prospective for controls.

      Patients on the other hand will be recruited retrospectively from the dedicated oral
      consultation at the Hospital.
    

Intervention name(s): Controls
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): questionnaire food scale: HME data collection of food survey
Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Other
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        children with eating difficulties and children from nurseries without eating difficulties
        (controls).
      
Keywords: Infants and children with eating difficulties