Ultrasound Analysis of Sucking Behavior of Newborn Infants: Sucking Pressure of Newborn Infants with Cleft Palate during Nutritive Sucking

摘要

Sucking behavior was studied with ultrasound during nutritive sucking in four full-term neonates with cleft palate and lip but without neurologic or other abnormalities. Sucking pressure was measured simultaneously and displayed with ultrasonograms. The peristaltic tongue movements of these infants were the same as those of normal neonates, but sucking pressure was not generated. These findings indicate that neonates with cleft palate cannot generate sucking pressure during nutritive sucking.