Chewing of hard foods and articulatory precision in children aged 6 to 8 years: Preliminary results

Background: Articulatory precision (AP) refers to the accuracy with which the speech structures achieve their intended goals. In typical development there may be slight articulatory imprecision. Studies on this subject are limited, and the development of AP remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether there is an association between the hardness of the foods consumed and the development of AP. Materials and methods: This study examined the relationship between the introduction of solid foods, masticatory ability (MA) for hard solids and beef, avoidant behaviors toward hard foods, and AP. Forty-two typically developing Spanish-speaking children, aged between 6 and 8 years, participated. Family interviews were conducted to gather information about the participants’ food history and behaviors related to food hardness, and AP was assessed perceptually. Results: Significant associations were found between food history, masticatory skills, and avoidant behaviors related to food hardness. A significant relationship was also observed between the introduction of food and MA for beef with AP. No significant associations were found between MA for hard solids, avoidant behaviors, and AP. Conclusions: Participants with delayed food introduction present poorer MA and greater rejection of hard foods. The results suggest an association between MA when chewing meat and AP, that is, individuals with lower ability to chew meat show poorer PA. The results are exploratory; further studies are needed to complement them.