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Effectiveness of cheek and jaw support to improve feeding performance of preterm infants

Yea-Shwu Hwang1, Chyi-Her Lin, Wendy J Coster

  • 1Department of Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Counseling, Sargent College, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

The American Journal of Occupational Therapy : Official Publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association
|January 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Oral support significantly improves feeding for preterm infants. This intervention enhances intake rate and reduces leakage, confirming its effectiveness for premature infants with feeding difficulties.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pediatric feeding disorders
  • Developmental pediatrics

Background:

  • Preterm infants often exhibit inefficient feeding patterns.
  • Challenges in feeding can impact growth and development in premature infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of cheek and jaw support on the feeding ability of preterm infants.
  • To determine if oral support enhances oral intake and reduces feeding inefficiencies.

Main Methods:

  • A within-subjects design was used with 20 preterm infants serving as their own controls.
  • Infants received either oral support (intervention) or no support (control) for two consecutive feeding sessions.
  • Data on intake rate, leakage, and physiological measures were collected.

Main Results:

  • Infants demonstrated a significantly higher intake rate during intervention feedings compared to control feedings (p = .046 for first 5 min, p = .023 for entire feeding).
  • Oral leakage was significantly reduced during the intervention phase (p = .040).
  • No significant differences were observed in sucking, physiological stability, or alertness between conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Oral support is a safe and effective strategy for improving feeding performance in preterm infants.
  • Implementing cheek and jaw support can enhance oral feeding efficiency in premature infants with feeding difficulties.
Abstract

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