Schwaab L M, Niman C W, Gisel E G
Am J Occup Ther. 1986 Jan;40(1):40-3. doi: 10.5014/ajot.40.1.40.
Chewing movements of normal 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old children were measured. Chewing movements of 2- and 3-year-olds were compared with those of 4- and 5-year-olds. Measures were taken on 56 children: 17 were 2 years old (8 female, 9 male); 19 were 3 years old (10 female, 9 male); and 20 were 4 years old (10 female and 10 male). Data of twenty 5-year-olds (10 males, 10 females) were taken from a previous study (9). Chewing movements were measured by time (seconds), number of cycles, and a time/cycle ratio. A chewing cycle was defined as an upward and downward movement of the chin. Total time from the moment food was placed in the mouth until the final swallow occurred was divided by the number of cycles counted for the same period. The type of food eaten affected time, cycles, and the time/cycle ratio, but age and sex did not. A comparison of younger (2- and 3-year-olds) and older children (4- and 5-year-olds) showed significant time differences. During maturation, time was shortened. It was shown earlier that under pathologic conditions (Down's syndrome) time was prolonged. Thus, the time/cycle ratio is an excellent indicator of the developmental status of a child.
对正常2岁、3岁和4岁儿童的咀嚼运动进行了测量。将2岁和3岁儿童的咀嚼运动与4岁和5岁儿童的进行了比较。对56名儿童进行了测量：17名2岁儿童（8名女性，9名男性）；19名3岁儿童（10名女性，9名男性）；20名4岁儿童（10名女性和10名男性）。20名5岁儿童（10名男性，10名女性）的数据取自先前的一项研究（9）。咀嚼运动通过时间（秒）、循环次数和时间/循环比来测量。一个咀嚼循环被定义为下巴的一次上下运动。从食物放入口中到最后吞咽发生的总时间除以同一时期计数的循环次数。所吃食物的类型会影响时间、循环次数和时间/循环比，但年龄和性别不会。对年幼（2岁和3岁）和年长儿童（4岁和5岁）的比较显示出显著的时间差异。在发育过程中，时间会缩短。早些时候表明，在病理状况（唐氏综合征）下时间会延长。因此，时间/循环比是儿童发育状况的一个极佳指标。
