[Role of the speech pathologist: language in the neonatal intensive care unit]

In 2004, the American Speech and Language Association (ASHA) established the primary roles and responsibilities of the speech and language pathologists (SLP) in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) breaking down the skills and knowledge needed to become a member of the neonatal team. It establishes as main parameters the evaluation and intervention in communication, feeding and swallowing: parents and caregivers counseling and education: as well as the collaboration and education of the neonatal team. In the NICU, the SLP works in the preparation to initiate the nutritive sucking process and describes maturation levels for nutritive sucking with bottle and breastfeeding The SLP establishes an intervention plan for the development of safe feeding and swallowing skills as well as for the training of parents and caregivers during the process. Research should be promoted to support these interventions and establish the standards for the field.