Question
I am currently seeing a 5-wk old with a soft palate cleft who left NICU with PO via Finger Feeding due to inability to achieve suction. The baby does continue to gain weight. Various nipples have been attempted (as an inpatient in NICU and now as an outp
Answer
My first instinct is that this not a typical feeding response from a child who presents solely with a cleft of the soft palate. It is important then to investigate other causes of the fatigue and inability to maintain an adequate lingual seal. I would recommend that a cleft palate team be consulted who might be able to determine if any other factors might be influencing this child's ability to successfully nipple feed.
Dr. Donna Scarborough has been a practicing speech-pathologist for 13 years serving populations across the lifespan. She teaches the dysphagia, trach and vent course at Miami (OH)University and serves on the ASHA Division 13 Research Committee. Dr. Scarborough can be reached at scarbod@muohio.edu.
Donna Scarborough, Ph.D
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