Impact of Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention on Swallowing Muscle Activity and Developmental Outcomes: A Study Protocol

Background: Motor control in infancy begins with feeding and swallowing, which can affect later cognitive, language, social-communication, and motor development. Feeding disorders in preterm infants increase the risk of developmental delays. The premature infant oral motor intervention (PIOMI) is a structured method developed to enhance oral feeding in preterm infants, but its effects on swallowing muscle activity and long-term developmental outcomes remain unclear.  Objectives: This study provides a protocol for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that will evaluate the impact of PIOMI on swallowing muscle activity and developmental outcomes in preterm infants with feeding disorders.  Methods: This is a protocol for a single-blind RCT with a pre-test/post-test/follow-up design, with the participation of ۶۰ preterm infants with feeding disorders from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a medical center in Babol, Iran. They will be randomly allocated to the PIOMI and control groups. The PIOMI group will receive daily oral-motor intervention for seven days along with routine care, while the control group will receive only routine care. Swallowing muscle activity will be assessed using surface electromyography (sEMG) pre- and post-intervention. Developmental outcomes, including cognitive, receptive/expressive language, social-communication, and motor skills, will be evaluated at ۳ and ۶ months post-intervention using the Newsha development scale, the ages and stages questionnaire, third edition (ASQ-۳), and the Bayley scales of infant and toddler development, third edition (Bayley-III). Results: Recruitment began in April ۲۰۲۵, and the intervention and follow-up are expected to conclude in December ۲۰۲۵. The results of data analysis will be ready by summer ۲۰۲۶. Conclusions: We assume that PIOMI may enhance developmental outcomes, support independent oral feeding, and improve long-term developmental outcomes in preterm infants. Findings of the RCT are expected to inform clinical practice and standards of NICU care.

کلیدواژه ها:

Preterm Infant ، Feeding disorder ، Oral-motor intervention ، Premature infant oral motor intervention (PIOMI) ، Developmental outcomes