PURPOSE: the aim of the present study was to characterize the demand for speech therapy among newborns with oral feeding difficulties at a neonatal unit of a public teaching school. METHODS: a descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was carried out using data obtained from all charts of newborns interned between March 2008 and February 2010 who received at least one speech/hearing evaluation/intervention. RESULTS: two hundred five newborns were treated in the study period, 104 of whom met the inclusion criteria. The sample was predominantly male, composed of premature newborns with adequate gestational age (mean: 36 weeks) and low birth weight. The most frequent diagnoses were respiratory disorder, jaundice and cardiovascular disorder. The following were the predominant reasons for requesting an evaluation by a speech therapist: abnormal oral motor behavior, evaluation of readiness for oral feeding and difficulties using a cup. Most evaluations were requested by residents when the newborns had a mean of 28 days of life. A broader set of criteria was used by the team requesting a speech therapy evaluation in comparison to criteria described in the literature. CONCLUSION: the majority of newborns receive oral feeding without a prior evaluation by a speech therapist, which can lead to situations of risk with regard to safe, efficient feeding.
Neonatology; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Feeding
