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Evidence-based systematic review: effects of oral motor interventions on feeding and swallowing in preterm infants

Joan Arvedson1, Heather Clark, Cathy Lazarus

  • 1Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
|July 13, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Oral motor interventions (OMIs) show promise for improving feeding and swallowing in preterm infants, but more research is needed due to varied results and study limitations.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Clinical nutrition

Background:

  • Preterm infants often experience feeding and swallowing difficulties.
  • Oral motor interventions (OMIs) are used to address these challenges.
  • Pulmonary health is a critical concern in preterm infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review evidence on OMIs for preterm infants.
  • To assess effects on feeding/swallowing physiology and function.
  • To evaluate impact on pulmonary health outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search (1960-2007).
  • Inclusion of 12 studies on nonnutritive sucking (NNS) and oral stimulation.
  • Appraisal of methodological quality by multiple reviewers.

Main Results:

  • NNS and combined NNS/stimulation improved feeding physiology and reduced time to oral feeding.
  • Prefeeding stimulation yielded mixed results.
  • No studies reported on pulmonary health outcomes.
  • Weight gain/growth was not consistently improved by OMIs.

Conclusions:

  • Some OMIs show potential for enhancing feeding/swallowing in preterm infants.
  • Methodological limitations and inconsistent findings necessitate cautious clinical application.
  • Further high-quality research is required to confirm efficacy.
Abstract

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