We have reviewed adaptive utensils for cerebral palsy sufferers. If you are in a hurry, the table below gives a quick snapshot. Or you can scroll down for detailed product reviews.
Contents
Cerebral Palsy is one of those disorders that make your movements impaired and makes daily activities a little difficult. Tasks like eating food, using the bathroom, brushing teeth, etc. sometimes become a challenge for those suffering from Cerebral Palsy.
This article focuses on addressing the difficulties faced while eating by reviewing adaptive utensils that can make the daily routine of someone suffering from Cerebral Palsy much easier and comfortable.
- Adaptive Utensils (4-Piece Kitchen Set)
- BUNMO Adaptive Utensils
- Vive Adaptive Utensil Set
- Vincere Silverware Weighted Utensils
- Celley Adaptive Utensils, 4 Pcs Set
- Homvare Adaptive Utensils (4-Piece Kitchen Set)
- Adaptive Utensils (4-Piece Premium Stainless Steel)
- Sammons Preston Ivory Round Scoop Dish
- Providence Spillproof Scoop Plate
- Maddak Skidtrol Red Scooper Dish with Non-Skid Base
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy is a group of disorders that can affect your movement and posture or muscle tone. This is because of the damage that occurs to an immature brain as it is developing, mostly before birth.
In general, cerebral palsy leads to impaired movement which is associated with floppiness, abnormal flexes or rigidity of the trunk and limbs, involuntary movements, abnormal posture, unsteady walking, or a combination of these symptoms.
The effects of Cerebral Palsy on function vary to a great extent. Some affected people can walk, others need assistance. Some people show normal or near-normal intellect, while others experience intellectual disabilities.
Challenges Faced by Individuals With Cerebral Palsy While Using Eating Utensils
Every child needs to learn how to properly use eating utensils or drink from a cup while growing up. While this is hard for young children to master, this is even harder for children with Cerebral Palsy.
It is quite a challenge to scoop food off a plate, hold onto a spoon, or drink out of a cup without spilling. These sorts of instances can cause children to experience frustration and a lack of independence.
Every child needs to have the opportunity to feed themselves which is facilitated by eating utensils that have the ability to adapt to their varying needs, especially when eating a meal seems like a difficult task.
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Available Adaptive Utensils For Cerebral Palsy
There are many different types of forks and spoons that could fit your needs. Padded forks and spoons make it easier for those with low fine-motor skills for gripping utensils.
Some of these forks and spoons even come with grips to stop hands from slipping. Curved or bent utensils make it easier to get the food from the plate directly into the mouth.
However, there are situations where it is difficult to grip. For such cases, there are spoon and fork cuffs that can be attached to the cutlery that easily slip over the hand. Irrespective of the challenge, there are tools available that can make eating with forks and spoons easier.
Plates and bowls can make eating a little harder for individuals with Cerebral Palsy, but with the right kind of utensils, it can still become an easier task. Scooper bowls or plates have curved outer edges that prevent food from spilling over the edge and thus make the process of scooping food onto a fork or spoon easier.
These bowls or plates also come with suction bottoms that prevent the plate or bowl from slipping away while eating.
In case you do not want to use special utensils and prefer using regular dishes, there are plastic food guards and food bumpers that can be used. It allows the user not to spill over the food.
For those individuals who do not like mixing different foods, there are partitioned dishes available.
In addition to these options, there are cups that aim at making drinking less of a challenge. There are cups with cutouts that make it possible to drink without tilting the head backward.
Cups with large handles make holding a lot easier, while soft cups help to make the gripping easier. Also, there are one-way straws that will keep the fluid in the straw at all times and prevent swallowing of the air.
We have identified some of the best options of adaptive cutlery for patients with Cerebral Palsy and are sharing their details for you. We would be covering kitchen utensil sets and dish bowls in this list since these are the most commonly used products.
#1 Adaptive Utensils (4-Piece Kitchen Set)
This set of adaptive kitchen utensils includes a wider set of utensils with a non-weighted design. These adaptive utensils are designed with grip corners and handles that allow the user to hold the utensil in an easy way.
The set includes a matching 4-piece set, including a knife, fork, dinner spoon, and soup spoon that covers a wide range of meal choices.
With a food-grade safe silicone handle, each of these adaptive utensils is made with dishwasher-safe stainless steel. They are easier to use than the standard metal, ceramic, or smooth-designed utensils.
The ultra-wide handle with silicone ridges makes it easier for the user to grasp the utensils and hold onto them. This is great for seniors, youth, or anyone who are in requirement of a bit more support at the table, thereby giving back the much-needed confidence with utensils.
The utensils are easy to clean and very durable. They come with gray or black silicone handles to match better with your kitchen.
Pros
- The utensils are dishwasher safe.
- The utensils have non-slip handles.
Cons
- The utensils are not bendable.
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#2 BUNMO Adaptive Utensils
BUNMO Adaptive Utensils come with large and textured easy-grip handles that are designed for maximum hold. These handles are lightweight with a foam grip. It includes a fork, teaspoon, rocker knife, and tablespoon.
The silverware is made of high-quality rustproof stainless steel. The sharp kitchen knife has an original curved design and meets the standards of adaptive equipment. The utensils are dishwasher safe and make mealtime easier for those grappling with issues related to low grip strength.
Pros
- The utensils are dishwasher safe.
- They are lightweight with textured foam non-slip handles.
Cons
- The utensils are non-bendable.
#3 Vive Adaptive Utensil Set
The Vive Adaptive Utensil Set has an ergonomic adaptive design that enables an easy and steady grip. The set provides greater control while eating.
Each of the utensils is non-weighted and made of stainless steel which offers exceptional durability. It is capped with a built-up ribbed handle which creates an easy, non-slip grip.
The three-piece set includes a fork, knife, and spoon. There is a wide ribbed composite handle that is contoured for a comfortable fit. The handles are built up for greater control and stability.
The adaptive utensils are dishwasher safe for convenient and easy clean up. They come with a 60-day guarantee so that you can purchase them with great confidence.
Here we have a video featuring adaptive utensils by Vive.
Pros
- The utensils are dishwasher safe.
- They are durable and made of stainless steel.
Cons
- The utensils are non-bendable.
- The set includes only 3 utensils as compared to other options with two spoons.
#4 Vincere Silverware Weighted Utensils
These weighted utensils are discrete and look just like premium tableware. It comes with a roll-up canvas travel bag which makes it great for traveling, at restaurants, picnics, visiting friends, or using it at home. It also includes a high-quality gift box that can be used for gifting purposes.
This ergonomic four-piece set includes a table knife, a fork, a deep bowl soup spoon, and a tablespoon. The adaptive design of these utensils ensures that they are able to fit comfortably in the hand due to the slip-resistant coating.
Each of these adaptive utensils weighs a minimum of 7 ounces per unit. They are great for additional stability and easy comfort for individuals with weak gripping strength or wrist shake. The utensils are made with the highest quality of stainless steel offering a classic polished finish.
Pros
- Discrete and weighted.
- Comes with a travel bag holder for use during a commute.
Cons
- A bit expensive than other options available.
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#5 Celley Adaptive Utensils, 4 Pcs Set
The Celley Adaptive eating utensils set is designed specifically for those struggling with decreased fine motor skills associated with age or neurological impairments like Cerebral Palsy, ALS, Alzheimer’s, etc. Each utensil is equipped with a large, slip-resistant handle which is light in weight. This ensures comfort, better control and effectiveness.
Built of premium quality, this utensil set is engineered meticulously with food-grade stainless steel tips. It is rustproof and offers great craftsmanship and durability for long-term usage.
The set is 100% dishwasher safe and suitable for use at home or assisted living facilities.
Pros
- Ergonomic grip for improved control and efficiency.
- 100% dishwasher safe.
Cons
- Less weight.
#6 Homvare Adaptive Utensils (4-Piece Kitchen Set)
Each of the units of the Homvare Adaptive Utensil Kitchen set has large handles that are designed for easy grip to best suit people with neurological impairments and decreased fine motor skills.
These utensils have a chaffed handle made of rubber and premium steel tips that are designed to facilitate easy non-slip holding.
Each of the non-weighted adaptive utensils features a chaffed handle that has raised grips. These improve dexterity and control for the user. The tips of the utensils are made of stainless steel to ensure the longevity and durability of the product.
The utensils are 100% dishwasher safe for easy and quick cleaning.
Pros
- Good grip facilitated by ribbed rubber handles.
- 100% dishwasher safe – easy to care for.
Cons
- Non-weighted.
#7 Adaptive Utensils (4-Piece Premium Stainless Steel)
This set of adaptive kitchen utensils has wider utensils with a weighted design to specifically support individuals with neurological impairments like hand tremors, etc. Each of these utensils features a wider weighted non-slip handle that improves the control and dexterity to use them.
These utensils are made of stainless steel and are 100% dishwasher safe. They are easy to clean and ultra-durable.
Pros
- Wider weighted non-slip handle improves control and dexterity.
- 100% dishwasher safe – easy to care.
Cons
- A bit expensive than its counterparts.
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#8 Sammons Preston Ivory Round Scoop Dish
The Sammons Preston Ivory Round Scoop Dish is a self-feeding dish with a contoured lip that allows the food to be trapped thereby easily scooping it onto the cutlery.
The dish is made of polypropylene lightweight plastic that is virtually unbreakable. The 8 inch round scoop dish has an slip-resitant bottom with rubber padding for control when spooning food.
The dish is molded low in front and high in back to provide easier access to the food. It provides an ideal eating solution for those who have trouble eating due to medical conditions. The dish washes in the top shelf of domestic dishwashers and is latex-free. However, it is not recommended to be used in microwaves.
Pros
- The dish is dishwasher safe.
- Made of unbreakable plastic for durability.
Cons
- The dish is not recommended to be used in the microwave.
- The dish is too shallow to hold liquid food. Suggested mainly for solid food.
#9 Providence Spillproof Scoop Plate
The Providence Spillproof Scoop Plate features an ergonomic plate design that is meant to help individuals in guiding food onto their utensils with the help of a curved wall. It is lightweight and is made up of polypropylene.
The 9-inch scoop plate is durable and is an ideal eating solution for individuals who require assistance in eating independently without the help of a caregiver.
The scoop plate fits into the top shelf of dishwashers and is microwaveable. The plate os latex-free.
Pros
- The dish is dishwasher safe and microwaveable.
- Lightweight and made of durable material.
- Latex-free.
Cons
- The dish is not weighted.
#10 Maddak Skidtrol Red Scooper Dish with Non-Skid Base
The Maddak Skidtrol Red Scooper Dish is a combination of a bowl and plate. It has a contoured lip that assists in pushing food onto the cutlery. It is designed for people with limited muscle control or those who have trouble eating due to medical conditions like Cerebral Palsy, Tremors, etc.
The dish is made of heat-resistant molded plastic and features a high wall, anti-slip bottoms, and a rounded rim. The non-skid or suction cup base helps in keeping the dish in place thereby preventing the dish from sliding off the table.
Pros
- The contoured tip of this combination plate/bowl helps in food onto cutlery.
Cons
- The dish is not recommended for usage in the microwave or dishwasher.
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Conclusion
For individuals with Cerebral Palsy, eating and drinking can lead to a lot of frustration owing to the lack of independence. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The challenge of feeding oneself can easily be reduced by using dishes and utensils that are designed for a wide range of needs.
