Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System for Individuals with Cerebral Palsy (EDACS)

People with cerebral palsy cannot use the range of physical movement available to most of us. Difficulties may occur in the development of walking, speech and hand function. The movements involved in biting, chewing and swallowing are frequently affected. Children and young people with cerebral palsy may have problems eating enough food to grow and to stay healthy because it is challenging to move their mouths to eat and drink efficiently. Some of them will have problems with frequent chest infections because particles of food or drink enter their lungs when they swallow. These difficulties continue throughout their lives.

We developed the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS) for people with cerebral palsy. EDACS describes five distinct levels of ability using the key features of safety and efficiency:

EDACS Descriptions and Illustrations

We developed EDACS by consulting with people with cerebral palsy, parents and experts around the world. EDACS has been tested to see how easy and reliable it is when used by speech and language therapists and parents.

EDACS is the product of an independent research project funded for three years by the National Institute of Health Research, under its Research for Patient Benefit Programme (Grant Reference Number PB-PG-1208-18144). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.

Information about EDACS 

• Development and Reliability of EDACS - Sellers et al, 2013
• Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology video podcast
• Plain English Summary
• Cerebral Palsy – Common Data Elements Summary
• A common data language for clinical research studies: the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Cerebral Palsy Common Data Elements Version 1.0 recommendations
• The Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System for cerebral palsy: a study of reliability and stability over time
• Reliability and validity of the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS) for children with cerebral palsy in Taiwan
• Mini-EDACS: Development of the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System for young children with cerebral palsy
• Development of Mini-EDACS podcast DMCN