NBCOT Occupational Therapy Certification Practice Exam

The approach of positioning your fingers to guide the child's jaw and provide stability is highly effective for teaching a child with cerebral palsy to maintain a stable jaw during feeding. This approach directly addresses the physical challenges that the child may face due to muscle control and coordination difficulties associated with cerebral palsy. By using manual guidance, the therapist can offer immediate feedback and support, helping the child develop a better understanding of jaw positioning and stability necessary during feeding.

This method can aid in reinforcing the muscle memory required for stable jaw control. It also allows for real-time adjustments to be made according to the child's responses during the feeding process, enhancing the learning experience. The tactile input from manual guidance can be particularly beneficial, as it complements the child's sensory processing and can help in building the necessary motor skills for feeding.

Other strategies, such as utilizing visual prompts, encouraging independence without assistance, or using specially designed feeding chairs, can contribute to the feeding process but may not directly address the stability of the jaw in the same hands-on manner that manual guidance does. Each of these alternatives has its place, but they do not offer the same level of immediate, targeted support that can be crucial for a child with cerebral palsy in developing the necessary skills for effective feeding.