Treatment of neonatal swallowing disorders

Due to the brain injury of neonatal ischemic-hypoxic encephalopathy, it may lead to the weakening of the primitive reflexes related to swallowing, abnormal tongue movement, abnormal sucking, and difficulty in the coordination between breathing and sucking and swallowing. Commonly used treatment methods: 1. When breastfeeding, the middle finger holds the lower jaw up, and the thumb and index finger are placed on both sides of the cheeks to lightly press back and forth to assist the sucking action; 2. Oropharyngeal movement massage training: use the index finger on both sides of the cheeks to gently press the inner side of the mouth and massage the perioral muscles; and lightly press the upper lip to cause the lower lip to lift up and make the lips close; lightly tap the lower jaw and pat the cheeks to relax the muscles; 3. Training to reduce allergic reactions in the mouth. Stroking the alveoli, the sides of the teeth and the tongue, and merging the upper and lower jaws after each stroke to induce swallowing movements; 4. Ice stimulation training: using a frozen cotton swab dipped in a little water, gently stimulate the soft palate, the root of the tongue and the posterior pharyngeal wall to induce swallowing movements. It has been proved that early training of oropharyngeal motor function and feeding for children with brain injury can significantly improve the swallowing function of the children.