[Effect of oral motor intervention in improving brain function development in preterm infants: a randomized...

Area of Science:

• Neonatal neurology
• Developmental pediatrics
• Neurophysiology

Background:

• Preterm infants face developmental challenges.
• Brain function development is crucial for long-term outcomes.
• Early interventions can mitigate risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of oral motor intervention (OMI) on brain function development in preterm infants.
• To assess changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) and neurobehavioral assessments.
• To compare outcomes between intervention and control groups.

Main Methods:

• 112 preterm infants were stratified by gestational age and randomized into control and OMI groups.
• Oral motor intervention (OMI) was administered to the intervention group.
• Amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) and Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) were used to evaluate brain function development on days 1, 7, and 14.

Main Results:

• The OMI group showed improved aEEG scores and neurobehavioral assessments compared to controls.
• Significant improvements in EEG parameters and NBNA scores were observed in both small- and large-gestational-age preterm infants receiving OMI.
• OMI promoted a higher percentage of mature sleep-wake cycles in small-gestational-age infants.

Conclusions:

• Oral motor intervention (OMI) effectively promotes the maturation of aEEG background activities in preterm infants.
• OMI improves neurobehavioral manifestations and accelerates overall brain function development.
• This intervention offers a promising approach for enhancing developmental outcomes in preterm neonates.