Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
Author Spotlight: Implications of Non-Nutritive Sucking on Speech Emergence and Infant Development
Published on: April 19, 2024
The Effects of Multimodal Sensory Interventions on the Behavioral States and Feeding Outcomes in Preterm Infants: A
Ting Tu1, Hongqing Guo, Ying Yuan
1Author Affiliations: Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China (Ms Tu, Mrs Guo, Ms Yuan, Ms Hu); and School of Nursing, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China (Ms Tu, Ms Hu).
Insights
Multimodal sensory interventions like tactile-kinesthetic stimulation (TKS) show promise for improving preterm infant feeding outcomes. However, effects on behavioral states require further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Sensory integration therapy
Background:
- Multimodal sensory interventions are used to support oral feeding in preterm infants.
- Existing research shows variability in intervention types and inconsistent outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of multimodal sensory interventions on behavioral states and feeding outcomes in preterm infants.
- To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials on multimodal sensory interventions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of five databases up to April 2025.
- Inclusion of randomized controlled trials assessing multimodal sensory interventions, feeding outcomes, and behavioral states.
- Data extraction and risk of bias assessment by two independent reviewers.
Main Results:
- Thirty studies identified, categorized into four intervention groups.
- Tactile-kinesthetic stimulation (TKS) improved weight gain and reduced length of stay.
- Combined oral and unimodal stimulation accelerated transition time and increased feeding volume.
- Auditory-tactile-visual-vestibular intervention (ATVV) and other combined interventions showed no significant feeding outcome improvements; behavioral state effects were unclear.
Conclusions:
- TKS and combined oral/unimodal stimulation may enhance key feeding outcomes in preterm infants.
- The impact of these interventions on infant behavioral states remains uncertain.
- Further high-quality research is needed to clarify intervention effects and optimize practices.
Background:
Multimodal sensory interventions generally facilitate oral feeding in preterm infants. However, variability exists in forms of interventions, leading to inconsistent effects.
Purpose:
The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of multimodal sensory interventions on behavioral states and feeding outcomes in preterm infants.
Data Sources:
Five databases were reviewed from inception of databases to April 2025.
Study Selection:
Randomized controlled trials of multimodal sensory interventions examining feeding outcomes and behavioral states were enrolled. Multimodal interventions were defined as combinations of different unimodal sensory stimuli.
Data Extraction:
Two independent reviewers evaluated the risk of bias and extracted relevant data.
Results:
Thirty studies involving 4 multimodal intervention groups were identified: tactile-kinesthetic stimulation (TKS), TKS combined with oral stimulation, auditory-tactile-visual-vestibular intervention (ATVV), and a combined oral and another unimodal stimulation. TKS increased weight gain and decreased length of stay compared to standard care, but showed no advantage over uni-tactile stimulation. Combined oral with another unimodal stimulation accelerated transition time and increased feeding volume. ATVV and a combined tactile-kinesthetic and oral stimulation showed no significant effects on oral feeding outcomes. Effects on behavioral states were unclear. Frequency, duration, and caregiver quality also impacted effects.
Implications For Practice And Research:
TKS and a combined oral and another unimodal stimulation may enhance feeding outcomes, including weight gain, feeding volume, length of stay, and transition time. The potential effects on behavioral states remain unclear. More high-quality studies are necessary to further validate the effects of variable forms of interventions on behavioral states and feeding outcomes.
More Related Videos
11:50Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
11:14A Novel Experimental and Analytical Approach to the Multimodal Neural Decoding of Intent During Social Interaction in Freely-behaving Human Infants
Published on: October 4, 2015
