This is achieved by observing the movement and coordination of the cheeks and jaws, the seal of the lips around the finger and by the rhythmicity of the pressures exerted on the finger. Nutritive sucking is assessed by observing the movement and coordination of the same structures when the infant is bottle feeding. In addition to providing only a subjective and descriptive assessment, the current approach does not allow for re-evaluation of the performance of the infant, if necessary. Therefore, the use of an objective and quantitative approach that can be recorded will provide not only more accurate information on the infant's feeding skills, but also the possibility of re-analyses of the data at a later time, if desired. An accurate assessment of infant's oral motor competence is essential in order to make correct diagnoses and offer the appropriate therapies.
Suction is the negative intraoral pressure generated to draw milk into the mouth.
Premature infants who can use only the expression component as a result of their immaturity can be successful in oral feeding. A 5-point scale has been developed to aid in evaluating the maturational stage of nutritive sucking. Differentiation between the suction and expression components of sucking is not made readily with a gloved finger when assessing nonnutritive sucking and cannot be made from the visual assessment of nutritive sucking during bottle feeding. Dr. Lau at Baylor has developed a system that allows the monitoring of the suction and expression component of sucking. During bottle feeding, if desired, milk transfer can also be measured.