Breastfeeding Support Team: When to Add a Chiropractor

ObjectiveChiropractors are primary care clinicians with a musculoskeletal focus. As community-based practitioners, they are educated and available to treat the common problems of infancy, including sub-optimal breastfeeding. The objective of this investigation was to highlight some of the key skills and techniques used by chiropractors to assist the breastfeeding dyad.MethodsThe method of this paper was a brief review of the evidence for chiropractic care to improve breastfeeding problems and to highlight the biological plausibility for that evidence. The primary evidence was evaluated by expert opinion.ResultsMechanical forces during intrauterine life and during birth may negatively affect the oral-motor function of the newborn. Although it is difficult to establish exact reasons for these problems, assisted births such as forceps, vacuum extraction and cesarean section have been implicated. It is the job of the chiropractor to examine the infant to detect and diagnose musculoskeletal problems that may impair the infant's feeding efficiency. After making a diagnosis, a treatment plan of precise, gentle manipulation can help maximize the functional effectiveness of the muscles and joints involved in breastfeeding and comfort for the child.ConclusionThe chiropractor is one of many professionals poised to support and assist effective breastfeeding. A collaborative team can be helpful to gain early establishment and continuation of breastfeeding.

Are children with childhood apraxia of speech a subgroup of children with developmental coordination disorders?

Motor development is related to various aspects of human development, from speaking to taking care of oneself and participating in sports. Developmental disorder affecting the motor domain is known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), which results in a marked impairment in motor skills, which in turn can have a significant impact on activities of everyday living (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Several studies have shown that the motor deficit in DCD is not restricted to limb control and may be a more general phenomenon that could affect the speech motor system (Ho and Wilmut, 2010). According to Maassen (2002), there is strong evidence that delayed or deviant motor development and perceptual motor learning play a role in many children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Knowing that articulation is a mechanical act executed by the complex speech apparatus, could this potentially mean that children with CAS are a subgroup of children with DCD? Different studies demonstrated that children with CAS had problems with various aspects of nonspeech oral motor function (Tükel, Björelius, Henningsson, McAllister and Eliasson, 2015), as well as balance, aiming and catching (Iuzzini-Siegel, 2019). Further evidences of impaired motor skills could help us understand the underpinnings of CAS.

Readiness for oral feeding and oral motor function in preterm infants

ABSTRACT Objective: this study aimed at investigating the Schedule Oral Motor Assessment (SOMA) tool to be used with preterm infants and to compare its results with the Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale (POFRAS) to start oral feeding. Methods: a cross-sectional and quantitative study, consisting in a sample of 45 healthy and clinically stable preterm infants, assessed at their first oral feeding with two tools: the Schedule Oral Motor Assessment and Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale. Stata 10.0 software was used for data analysis. Results: 10 preterm infants with readiness for oral feeding showed normal oral motor function, and 16, presented with oral motor dysfunction, did not show readiness for feeding (p <0.05). The time of transition for full oral feeding was 13.5 (± 8.1) days for preterm infants with better results in both assessment tools, and 17.7 (± 10.9) days for those who did not show readiness for oral feeding and had oral motor dysfunction to initiate oral feeding, resulting in a given clinical relevance, even showing no significance (p> 0.05). Conclusion: these results suggest that the Schedule Oral Motor Assessment can be an adjunctive method for evaluation of the oral motor function at the first oral feeding in preterm infants.

Función motora oral del lactante como estímulo de crecimiento craneofacial / Infant Oral Motor Function as a Stimulus for Craniofacial Growth

<p><em><strong><span>Background:</span></strong></em><span class="apple-converted-space"><span> </span></span><span>The growth of the craniofacial complex is essential for infant health as it is one of the best predictors of overall growth. Moreover, the facial development depends on stimuli such as suction, breathing, chewing, and swallowing, which induce an adequate facial anatomy and shape face structure. The motor activity is also influenced by the type of feeding that is part of child development.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><strong>Purpose:</strong></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>To analyze the effects of oral motor function in the proper development of craniofacial structures in children, while considering biological mechanisms and type of feeding.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><strong>Methods:</strong></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>A critical review of literature was carried out with the aim of analyzing the relationship between biological mechanisms, type of feeding, and infant oral functional processes as mechanisms to stimulate craniofacial growth.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><strong>Results:</strong></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>An appropriate oral motor function induces optimal craniofacial growth. The type of feeding is a determinant of growth. Breastfeeding is essential for optimal craniofacial growth and the prevention of dentomaxillofacial anomalies. Craniofacial shape and function depend of the balance between bone structure and muscle mechanical load.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><strong>Conclusion:</strong></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Breastfeeding is the best way to promote growth and development of craniofacial structures, maturation of infant oral motor function and the incidence decrease of malocclusion indicators. Craniofacial growth depends of a favorable bone and muscle condition.</span></p>