Systematic Review of Interventions Used in or Relevant to Occupational Therapy for Children With Feeding Difficulties Ages Birth-5 Years
American Journal of Occupational Therapy
Howe, T. H., & Wang, T. N. (2013).
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67(4), 405-412.
This systematic review investigates the effects of behavioral, parent-directed, and physiological interventions on feeding, eating, and swallowing outcomes in children (birth to 5 years of age) with feeding and/or swallowing disorders.
American Occupational Therapy Association
From 1990
Any peer-reviewed, original studies (excluding expert opinion)
34
<div>"As supported by moderate to strong evidence, early SSC [skin to skin contact] between mothers and their infants has positive effects on infants' physiological profiles, breastfeeding, and breastfeeding duration" (p. 409).</div>
<div>Parent-directed/educational interventions were reported to be effective in improving maternal support, parent-child interaction, and feeding competency of the parent and child.</div>
<div>Strong to moderate evidence was found for the positive effects of positioning, oral support, pacing, modified equipment (e.g., slow-flow nipple), and stimulation.</div>
<div>Nonnutritive sucking (NNS) was noted to have strong evidence for length of stay, and decreased transition time from tube to oral feeding. The findings were inconclusive for the effects of NNS on feeding performance, intestinal transit time, and behavioral state during tube or bottle feeding. No effects were found on weight gain, gastric emptying, and physiological parameters.</div>
<div>Behavioral interventions had a positive effect on appetite, food acceptance, oral intake, mealtime behavior, and weight gain.</div>
