Alaina Martens1, Morgan Hines2, Emily Zimmerman3. 1. Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: a.martens@northeastern.edu. 2. Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: m.hines@northeastern.edu. 3. Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: e.zimmerman@northeastern.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Non-nutritive suck (NNS) is one piece of the complex oral feeding process, yet there is paucity on how it develops throughout the first year of life. AIMS: To determine changes in infant NNS between 3 and 12 months of age. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-six full-term infants (65% male) completed this study. All infants were offered our custom research pacifier to attain a quantitative analysis of their suck pattern. Based on quantitative analyses of NNS cycle count, the best 2 min of infants' suck were selected and analyzed. OUTCOME MEASURES: NNS duration, amplitude, cycles/burst, frequency, cycles, and bursts. RESULTS: NNS duration, bursts, cycles/burst and cycles significantly decreased from 3 to 12 months, yet amplitude significantly increased over the same time period. Additionally, no significant differences were evident for NNS frequency. Three-month-old infants produced a median of 4.50 suck bursts per minute that contained 9.60 cycles/burst, resulting in a burst duration of 4.74 s. The median NNS frequency was 2.09 Hz, with an average amplitude of 14.05 cmH20. Twelve-month-old infants produced a median of 2.50 suck bursts that contained 3.75 cycles/burst, resulting in a burst duration of 1.67 s. The median NNS frequency was 2.11 Hz with an amplitude of 19.75 cmH20. CONCLUSION: Full-term infants significantly change their NNS duration, amplitude, burst number, cycles/burst and cycle number with no significant changes present in NNS frequency between 3 and 12 months. Knowledge of NNS emergence and maturation during the first year of life is imperative for proper NNS assessment so that healthcare professionals can identify delays.
BACKGROUND: Non-nutritive suck (NNS) is one piece of the complex oral feeding process, yet there is paucity on how it develops throughout the first year of life. AIMS: To determine changes in infant NNS between 3 and 12 months of age. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-six full-term infants (65% male) completed this study. All infants were offered our custom research pacifier to attain a quantitative analysis of their suck pattern. Based on quantitative analyses of NNS cycle count, the best 2 min of infants' suck were selected and analyzed. OUTCOME MEASURES: NNS duration, amplitude, cycles/burst, frequency, cycles, and bursts. RESULTS: NNS duration, bursts, cycles/burst and cycles significantly decreased from 3 to 12 months, yet amplitude significantly increased over the same time period. Additionally, no significant differences were evident for NNS frequency. Three-month-old infants produced a median of 4.50 suck bursts per minute that contained 9.60 cycles/burst, resulting in a burst duration of 4.74 s. The median NNS frequency was 2.09 Hz, with an average amplitude of 14.05 cmH20. Twelve-month-old infants produced a median of 2.50 suck bursts that contained 3.75 cycles/burst, resulting in a burst duration of 1.67 s. The median NNS frequency was 2.11 Hz with an amplitude of 19.75 cmH20. CONCLUSION: Full-term infants significantly change their NNS duration, amplitude, burst number, cycles/burst and cycle number with no significant changes present in NNS frequency between 3 and 12 months. Knowledge of NNS emergence and maturation during the first year of life is imperative for proper NNS assessment so that healthcare professionals can identify delays.
Authors: Mechteld I Wolthuis-Stigter; Margreet R Luinge; Saakje P da Costa; Wim P Krijnen; Cees P van der Schans; Arend F Bos Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2014-10-11 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Emily Zimmerman; Andréa Aguiar; Max T Aung; Sarah Dee Geiger; Morgan Hines; Megan L Woodbury; Alaina Martens; Gredia Huerta-Montanez; José F Cordero; John D Meeker; Susan L Schantz; Akram N Alshawabkeh Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2021-12-16 Impact factor: 3.953
Authors: Christopher J Mayerl; Chloe E Edmonds; Emily A Catchpole; Alexis M Myrla; Francois D H Gould; Laura E Bond; Bethany M Stricklen; Rebecca Z German Journal: J Appl Physiol (1985) Date: 2020-10-15
Authors: Emily Zimmerman; Deborah J Watkins; Gredia Huerta-Montanez; Zaira Rosario Pabon; Zlatan Feric; Justin Manjourides; Carmen M Velez-Vega; Abigail Figueroa; Morgan Hines; Alaina Martens; José Cordero; Akram Alshwabekah; John D Meeker Journal: Environ Int Date: 2021-03-16 Impact factor: 9.621