Biting on the spoon whilst being fed

[Wombatz]

My wife has started biting down hard on the spoon when being fed. I am concerned she will damage her teeth. She doesn't do it all the time but I never know when it is going to happen.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Is there a solution?

[LuisRodicioRodicio]

Hi Wombatz!

We also had this problem and we solved it by buying some soft spoons that are usually used to feed small children.

[Sawa]

Hi Wombatz,

We definitely had the same problem - it's completely involuntary and sometimes we really struggled to get the spoon out again! If the jaws clamp down, then sometimes gently massaging the neck and jaw muscles will help them release. We moved to spoons made of other material that was a bit more forgiving. As the disease progressed, hubby stopped being able to open his jaws wide enough for a spoon to go in. And then we moved to soft food / very small pieces that we would push off the spoon into his mouth using a wooden tongue depressor / ice cream stick.

Sawa

[WifeLilyRose]

My late husband had this problem in the later stage of PSP. He was at home and a Speech and Language Therapist { SALT } came round monthly I think, to check on his swallowing, eating, choking. She brought some well designed smallish plastic spoons round which helped for a while. She taught me and his carers how to stay calm and to massage his jaw muscles, I seem to remember. She guided me in supporting him through his increasing difficulties. I do remember that apart from not rushing when feeding him, one should not engage in conversation, just use encouraging words. Also to not offer drinks during a meal, only at the end. If SALT support is not being given, you MUST push for this through your GP or district nurse service. Luckily my husband liked the therapist we had and he was calm and took instructions from her right up until the end. He was always adamant that he did not want a PEG and that decision was respected. Wishing you all the best. X

[Wombatz in reply to WifeLilyRose]

Thank you I will get in touch with our SALT