This work was supported by a grant from Shalem Fund
The University of Haifa and the Ono Academic College in collaboration with Keren Shalem, recruited participants for a unique applied research project, the first of its kind, in the field of eating intervention for adult individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) in community settings. The project included eight participants from two community settings in the center of the country . In the current study, the effectiveness of a brief sensorimotor intervention program administered prior to eating was examined, by comparing the eating skills of the participants before and after the intervention . The data were collected from two samples before and after the intervention, using the “Mosh-Eat” questionnaire, the “Satisfaction with the Caregiver’s Feeding Experience” questionnaire, and videos taken during mealtime in the community setting. These assessment tools identified and pin-pointed eating abilities and difficulties among the participants and formed the basis for developing and adapting a distinctive intervention program for each participant. The results of the study revealed a difference in the eating skills of the participants before and after the intervention as reflected in the total score of the “Mosh-Eat” questionnaire, as well as in each of its sub-sections. The results indicate a trend of improvement in all behaviors examined i.e.: chewing and swallowing, posture, eating less, selectivity in eating, communication, and behavior in eating .
To download English Mosh-Eat Questionnaire
Key words: Intellectual Developmental Disability (IDD), Eating Difficulties, Eating Intervention