The functional oral intake scale (FOIS), which was created for adults based on consumable food groups, has been modified for newborns. A FOIS for children is required since oral motor development continues after the age of one year. This study suggested a FOIS for youngsters and evaluated the scale’s reliability and validity. Researchers converted the original FOIS into a 5-point scale for youngsters by eliminating two item levels. This retrospective research included 194 children ranging in age from one to seven years. Two raters independently examined their dietary records using the FOIS for children. The degree of dysphagia and aspiration was determined using the results of a videofluoroscopic swallowing study. Medical records were reviewed for children who were partially reliant on tube feeding to evaluate if full oral eating was achieved within a year. FOIS for children showed an inter-rater reliability of 97.4 percent. There were significant correlations found between the FOIS for children and the severity of aspiration and dysphagia. Children at the FOIS 3 level were more likely than children at the FOIS 2 level to achieve complete oral feeding within one year.
The FOIS for children demonstrated good reliability and validity, suggesting that it might be useful for recording children’s eating abilities and assessing the effectiveness of treatments.
