Speech-Language Therapy Oral Stimulus in a Preterm Baby

Introduction: Patient V.B.B., 1 month and 18 days, preterm of 34 weeks and corrected age of 18 days, hospitalized for respiratory dysfunction was discharged 8 days prior, after chirurgical procedure, receiving indication of keeping nasoenteric probe (NEP) for nutritional gain and oral stimulus by breast-feeding, because there is risk of bronchoaspiration with bottle feeding. Nevertheless, father says that the patient ripped off the NEP, with bad acceptation of oral feeding, having lost about 500g after discharge.

Objectives: To report the development of oral function in a preterm baby with difficulties in oral feeding.

Resumed Report: The patient was referred to speech-language evaluation and with syringe and gloved finger, it verified present and coordinate suction with three suctions/pause and light extraoral escape. Evaluating bottle feeding offer, she presented oral disorganization, inefficient suction, episodes of extraoral escape, cough, choking, tiredness, and altered cervical auscultation during and after offer, with wet noise. It was decided that feeding should be kept exclusively by NEP and to continue with speech-language swallow stimulus with syringe and gloved finger. After 10 days of therapy, presented improvement, having 7 to 10 suctions/pause suction pattern, efficient suction of 2 mL of milk, with minimal extraoral escape, respiratory effort, and tiredness in stimulus with syringe and a gloved fingered.

Conclusion: Speech-language therapy is not yet enough for exclusive oral feeding to this patient; however, she is progressing in the oral function development.

Keywords: Preterm, dysphagia, oral function.