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Assessment of sensorial oral stimulation in infants with suck feeding disabilities
M E Rendón-Macías1, L A Cruz-Perez, M R Mosco-Peralta
1Departamento Lactantes-Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México Distrito Federal.
Insights
Oral sensorial stimulation therapy improved sucking abilities in infants with feeding alterations. This therapy normalized oral reflexes and increased milk intake, showing significant clinical benefits for infant feeding.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Infants with sucking alterations often exhibit impaired oral reflexes and abnormal sucking signs.
- These difficulties can lead to inadequate milk intake and impact overall infant development.
- Early intervention is crucial for addressing these feeding challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical and physiological effects of sensorial oral stimulation on suck feeding in infants with sucking alterations.
- To assess the impact of the therapy on oral reflexes, sucking signs, and feeding efficiency.
- To identify specific improvements in feeding behaviors post-intervention.
Main Methods:
- A non-randomized, single-blind study involving fourteen pediatric patients (9-210 days old) with diagnosed sucking alterations.
- Patients presented with deficiencies in oral reflexes and/or abnormal sucking signs.
- Oral sensorial therapy was administered thrice daily for five consecutive days, with pre- and post-therapy assessments of oral reflexes, sucking signs, milk volume, and sucking rate.
Main Results:
- Significant recovery of oral reflexes (p=0.0000) and a decrease in abnormal sucking signs (p=0.0000) were observed post-therapy.
- Statistically significant improvements were noted in nipple ability, delay in sucking onset, milk drawing, cyanosis, weaning, and prolonged sucking.
- Consumed milk volumes increased significantly (p=0.0001), and sucking rates improved (p=0.0044).
Conclusions:
- Sensorial oral stimulation therapy effectively normalizes oral motor reflexes in infants with sucking difficulties.
- The therapy diminishes clinical signs of abnormal sucking and enhances milk volume intake during feeding.
- This intervention demonstrates significant potential for improving feeding outcomes in infants with oral motor challenges.
Abstract:
A non-randomized single blind study was undertaken to determine the clinical and physiological changes in suck feeding after sensorial oral stimulation, in fourteen patients age 9 to 210 days old with sucking alterations. Patients lacked at least one of the five oral reflexes, plus two or more abnormal sucking sings or at least one abnormal sucking sign, plus two or more abnormal oral reflexes. Oral sensorial therapy was performed thrice daily for five days. The number of absent oral reflexes, number of abnormal sucking signs, volume of milk for nursing and sucking rate, were registered. Differences of medians were tested using Freidman's test and differential of proportions using Cochran's Q test. After therapy, oral reflexes were recovered (2, 0-4 vs. 5,5-5, p = 0.0000, median rank of absence oral reflexes) and the number of abnormal sucking signs decreased (6,1-9 vs. 1, 0-4; p = 0.0000). There were statistically significant improvements in patients who had lost launch up nipple ability (p = 0.005), delay at the beginning of sucking (p = 0.0022), drawing of milk from the mouth (p = 0.0001), cyanosis (p = 0.0084), weaning (p = 0.0004) and prolonged sucking (p = 0.0038). Even in patients with moderate improvement, no statistical differences were observed in nipple rooting (p = 0.09) and coughing (p = 0.09). No changes were observed in patients who had cried (p = 0.31) and spitted (p = 0.51) during feeding. At the end of therapy, volumes of consumed milk were increased at each feeding (10 ml, 0-40 vs. 50 ml, 25-60; p = 0.0001). Sucking rates also increased (22 sucks/minute, 10-35 vs. 40.5, 35-48; p = 0.0044). Oral sensorial and motor stimulation normalise oral motor reflexes, diminish the clinical abnormal sucking signs and increase milk volumes ingested for nursing.
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