Clinical Research Directory

Validation of the D-TAP Parental Questionnaire for Early Screening of Pediatric Feeding Disorder in Hospitalized Children Aged 8 to 18 Months

This single-center observational study aims to evaluate the validity of the D-TAP parental questionnaire for early screening of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) in hospitalized children aged 8 to 18 months. Currently, no standardized screening test is routinely used by all healthcare professionals in France to identify PFD, despite its reported prevalence and potential consequences for child development, family well-being, and healthcare costs. The D-TAP questionnaire will be compared with the Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale. A blinded clinical speech-language pathology assessment of information collected during a semi-structured parental interview will be used to identify signs suggestive of PFD. A total of 100 children will be included. The study will assess the diagnostic performance of the D-TAP questionnaire, identify an optimal screening threshold, and explore whether parents initiate contact with a community-based speech-language therapist within six weeks after being informed of signs suggestive of PFD.