Neonatal speech therapy and breastfeeding support

Neonatal Speech Therapy is an area of speech therapy that focuses on working with the newborn. We work with premature babies, as well as with full-term babies who suffer from some type of feeding difficulty.

The role of the speech therapist in these cases is fundamental, evaluating and intervening in the swallowing and feeding process in order to ensure the efficacy and safety of the feeding.

Areas of action:

• Work on the difficulty of coordination of sucking-sucking-swallowing-breathing.
• To guarantee the baby’s survival.
• Improve and stabilize the baby’s feeding, guaranteeing swallowing.
• To evaluate the baby’s neurological status.
• Evaluate the level of reflexes, oral skills, swallowing status, swallowing safety and the neurological status of the baby.
• Status of the orofacial musculature involved in swallowing.
• Control of food inside the mouth.
• Difficulty in swallowing in any of its four stages.
• Oral motor control.
• Breastfeeding counseling, both maternal and artificial, guaranteeing safety and always choosing the most beneficial for the baby, always taking into account the family’s decision.
• Accompaniment and support in the introduction of complementary feeding.
• Dysglossia: palatal, nasal and labial fissures.
• Tongue and lip braces… Pre and post frenectomy rehabilitation.
• Problems in weight gain, coughing, choking or noises during breastfeeding.
• Difficulties in latching on to the breast.
• Pain when breastfeeding on the breast or nipples.

Working with families is essential. Our task is to guide, support and train them by providing them with the necessary tools and information so that they know how to approach their baby.