Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System
Published on: April 19, 2024
Prediction for developmental delay on Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale in preterm infants without brain lesion
Sen-Wei Tsai1, Chao-Huei Chen, Ming-Chih Lin
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Insights
Preterm infants with disorganized sucking patterns who achieve normal feeding by 37 weeks show better neurodevelopment. Early intervention is crucial for those with persistent feeding difficulties, predicting future developmental outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal development
- Pediatric neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Preterm infants often struggle with coordinated sucking patterns, impacting feeding.
- Disorganized sucking in neonates may correlate with future developmental challenges.
- Early identification of feeding issues is critical for preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between disorganized sucking patterns in preterm infants and their neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- To assess the predictive value of the Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale (NOMAS) for neurodevelopment.
- To determine the impact of achieving a normal sucking pattern by 37 weeks on infant development.
Main Methods:
- 27 preterm infants without brain lesions were studied using the Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale (NOMAS).
- Infants were grouped based on achieving a normal sucking pattern by 37 weeks (Group I) or persistent disorganization (Group II).
- Neurodevelopment was assessed at 6 and 12 months corrected age using Bayley Scales of Infant Development (MDI and PDI).
Main Results:
- Group I infants demonstrated significantly higher psychomotor developmental index (PDI) scores at 6 months compared to Group II.
- At 12 months, Group I showed significantly higher mental (MDI) and psychomotor (PDI) developmental index scores.
- Group II exhibited a higher rate of developmental delay at 6 months.
Conclusions:
- NOMAS assessment of neonatal feeding performance can predict neurodevelopmental outcomes at 6 and 12 months.
- Early intervention and close follow-up are recommended for preterm infants with persistent disorganized sucking patterns beyond 37 weeks post-conceptional age.
- Timely assessment of oral motor skills aids in identifying infants at risk for developmental delays.
Background:
Preterm infants often have difficulty in achieving a coordinated sucking pattern. To analyze the correlation between preterm infants with disorganized sucking and future development, weekly studies were performed of 27 preterm infants from initiation of bottle feeding until a normal sucking pattern was recognized.
Methods:
A total of 27 preterm infants without brain lesion participated in the present study. Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale (NOMAS) was utilized to evaluate the sucking pattern. Infants who were initially assessed as having disorganized sucking on NOMAS and regained a normal sucking pattern by 37 weeks old were assigned to group I; infants with a persistent disorganized sucking pattern after 37 weeks were assigned to group II. The mental (MDI) and psychomotor (PDI) developmental indices of Bayley Scales of Infant Development, second edition were used for follow-up tests to demonstrate neurodevelopment at 6 months and 12 months of corrected age.
Results:
At 6 months follow up, subjects in group I had a significantly higher PDI score than group II infants (P= 0.04). At 12 months follow up, group I subjects had a significantly higher score on MDI (P= 0.03) and PDI (P= 0.04). There was also a higher rate for development delay in group II at 6 months (P= 0.05).
Conclusion:
NOMAS-based assessment for neonatal feeding performance could be a helpful tool to predict neurodevelopmental outcome at 6 and 12 months. Close follow up and early intervention may be necessary for infants who present with a disorganized sucking pattern after 37 weeks post-conceptional age.
