Objective: Prolonged feeding and swallowing difficulties are often observed in premature infants beyond hospital discharge. Understanding the role of positive early feeding experiences and preventing long-term complications is important. The purpose of this study was to compare oral stimulation alone and with the addition of therapeutic tastes on overall oral intake upon feeding initiation. Method: Two of seven referred premature infants participated in this alternating treatment design study conducted at the infant’s bedside, during usual three-hour care times. The dependent variables (DVs) were proficiency of oral intake and Neonatal Eating Outcome Assessment scores. The independent variables (IVs) were oral stimulation using the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI) alone (Treatment A) and with therapeutic tastes (Treatment B). Results: Participant 1 born at 31 4/7 weeks gestation, and in room air at 34 weeks PMA completed eleven data points and six full feedings over four days. Participant 2 born at 32 weeks gestation, and in room air at 33 6/7 weeks PMA completed nine data points and seven full feeding over four days. Both participants’ showed decelerating trends across sessions for both DVs for both IVs, though Treatment A had a steeper decelerating trend. Conclusion: Significant conclusions cannot be drawn due to limited data points due to physiological instability. Both participants demonstrated signs of stress during Treatment A and after consecutive interventions. Further research is needed to determine effective and safe premature infant feeding intervention.
