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Oral-motor dysfunction and failure to thrive among inner-city infants
1Department of Child Psychiatry, Institute of Child Health, London.
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|June 1, 1989
Summary
Infants experiencing failure to thrive often have oral-motor issues and social challenges impacting feeding. Addressing these feeding difficulties is crucial for infant development and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Non-organic failure to thrive (NOFTT) in socio-economically deprived infants is linked to feeding difficulties.
- Social adversity, including disorganized mealtimes, may exacerbate feeding problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively assess oral-motor functioning in infants with NOFTT.
- To identify associations between oral-motor skills, temperament, and feeding environments in deprived infants.
Main Methods:
- A Feeding Assessment Schedule was developed to evaluate oral-motor behavior.
- Nine pairs of case and comparison infants were video-recorded during home-based feeding sessions.
- Analysis focused on oral-motor development, infant temperament, and feeding practices.
Main Results:
- Infants with NOFTT exhibited immature and abnormal oral-motor development, hindering successful feeding.
- Case infants were temperamentally more 'difficult' and less adept at signaling needs.
- Feeding environments for case infants involved inappropriate positions, distractions, and unsuitable utensils.
Conclusions:
- Abnormal oral-motor functioning and social adversity significantly impact feeding in infants with NOFTT.
- Interventions should address both oral-motor deficits and optimize the feeding environment for at-risk infants.