Effectiveness of Sensorimotor Stimulation on Oral Feeding Skills in Preterm Neonates

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate effectiveness of sensorimotor stimulation on oral feeding skills in preterm neonates.Methods and Subjects: The study was performed on fifty preterm neonate patients; they were divided into two equal groups, 25 patients as a control group received traditional medical treatment and the other 25 patients as a study group received traditional medical treatment plus sensorimotor stimulation program (perioral and intraoral stimulation, tactile/ kinesthetic intervention, feeding position and oral support during feeding). They evaluated by preterm infant oral feeding readiness assessment scale and feeding performance.Results: There was significant difference between groups regarding oral feeding (p 0.001), time to achieve exclusive oral feeding (p 0.001), duration of maturation (p 0.001), growth measures by the weight (p=0.026), and total hospital stay (p 0.001) while there was no significant difference in time taken for transition from tube to full oral feeds (p=0.226).Conclusion: Sensorimotor stimulation had a modulating effect on oral feeding skills and maturation of preterm neonates.