Sensorimotor Intervention for Feeding Management in the Preterm Population

Abstract

Oral feeding difficulty is a common complication facing infants born preterm. Preterm infants are not fully developed; therefore the coordination and function needed to perform the suck and swallow become disrupted. Studies have shown that oral stimulation and tactile stimulation are beneficial. Oral stimulation provides direct, targeted input to the oral structures involved in feeding, while tactile stimulation may facilitate motor development. This poster will review the efficacy of these approaches.