City Research Online

Abstract

Purpose
Oropharyngeal dysphagia (eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties) in children with neurodisability impacts their whole life. Speech-language pathologists optimise safe, efficient, and enjoyable mealtimes by providing interventions that require carers to adapt their mealtime assistance behaviours. This systematic review identifies and evaluates peer-reviewed mealtime interventions evidence, including content, child, and carer outcomes targeted and effectiveness.

Method
Eleven database and manual searches were completed (January 2024). Eligible studies reported on school-aged children with neurodisability and oropharyngeal dysphagia carer mealtime interventions in any setting against any comparator. Data extraction and quality assessment were completed leading to narrative synthesis.

Result
From 9627 reports, 29 studies (34 reports) were included in this review. Studies had variable designs, only one randomised controlled trial. There were 941 child and 457 carer participants, variably described. Multiple mealtime interventions by varied healthcare professionals targeted different carer behaviours. Twenty-four studies met quality criteria for synthesis with data too heterogeneous for meta-analysis. Studies demonstrated positive outcomes for child and carer mealtime safety, efficiency, and enjoyment using multiple measures.

Conclusion
Mealtime interventions appear better than none. Study evidence is low quality and heterogeneous, with no optimum approach evident. Good quality studies using consistent participant descriptions and core outcome set are required.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
Publisher Keywords:	paediatric feeding disorder, mealtime recommendations, neurodisability, speech and language therapy, caregivers
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry R Medicine > RF Otorhinolaryngology
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Allied Health School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Population Health & Policy
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

Export

Downloads