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Do Early Sucking/Feeding Difficulties Impact
Speech Sound Development? Jean Ashland, PhD
MGH Speech Language and Swallowing Disorders
Department Mary Riotte, MA Gregory L. Lof, PhD
MGH Institute of Health Professions BOSTON,
MASSACHUSETTS

• Moore and Ruark (1996) determined that
  mandibular coordination in 15-month old
  childrens single word productions was different
  than that observed during their chewing and
  sucking. They concluded that the development of
  speech coordination does not come from earlier
  appearing oral motor behaviors of
  sucking/feeding.
• Others believe that there is a causal
  relationship between the motor control used for
  sucking/feeding and that used for speech
  production. For example, Evan-Morris (1998)
  stated that when a child experiences difficulty
  with oral control in feeding, there will be
  similar oral control difficulties in their speech
  sound productions.
• Conflicting views between researchers and
  practicing clinicians regarding the relationship
  between these two systems also impacts the
  provision of patient care.
• To date, there is little research regarding the
  possible role of early sucking/feeding
  difficulties in infants and the later development
  of speech sounds.
• The purpose of this retrospective study was to
  determine if there is a relationship between
  early sucking/feeding problems in infancy and
  later speech/articulation difficulties in
  preschool-age children.

Background
Purpose
 
Methods
Summary
Implications

• This is a preliminary study with a small sample
  size. The strict inclusion criteria eliminated
  many potential participants.
• All children had respiratory issues in early
  infancy 2 children had mild neurological issues
  in early infancy 3 children had reflux in
  infancy 1 child had reported sucking
  difficulties. 3 children had sensory-based
  feeding difficulties as toddlers 1 child had
  later speech therapy (that focused on
  articulation) no children had feeding therapy 1
  child did not pass oral motor testing
  (hypotonia).
• All children had average to high average
  speech-language test scores.

• It appears that these children who were referred
  for a feeding evaluation in the NICU setting did
  not have later speech problems if they had
  sucking problems.
• One child received speech sound therapy but did
  not have early sucking problems.
• It is unknown the effect of early intervention
  services (OT/PT) on the speech development of two
  children.
• Further research (including longitudinal and
  prospective studies) is warranted to further
  examine the relationship between early
  sucking/feeding performance and later speech
  sound development.