title: Goniometer Measurements of Oral Labial Angle and Evaluation of Oral Motor Reflexes in Preterm Infants: Comparison to Findings in Term Infants.
abstract: To date, no study has evaluated changes in oral labial angle as preterm infants mature. The main purpose of this study was to document goniometer measurements of the labial angle of the mouth in preterm infants, to assess changes with development, to compare to findings in healthy term infants, and also evaluate oral motor reflexes in these groups. Seventy-eight preterm infants and 45 healthy term infants were recruited for the prospective study. Labial angle was assessed via goniometer, and oral motor reflexes and the volume of milk ingested were evaluated. There was significant difference between term and preterm infants' labial angles (P < .01). The distribution of preterm infants' angles were similar to term infants' by 36 to 40 weeks' postmenstrual age. Goniometer measurements of the oral labial angle may reveal oral motor performance in preterm infants and may be relevant for feeding skills assessment in this group of infants.
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey denizanuk@yahoo.com.
authors: Deniz Anuk
authors: DA
authors: Ince
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ali Ulas
authors: AU
authors: Tugcu
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ayşe
authors: A
authors: Ecevit
authors: Department of Speech and Language Pathology, Anadolu University Faculty of Health Care and Sciences, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors: Muzeyyen
authors: M
authors: Ciyiltepe
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Abdullah
authors: A
authors: Kurt
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Aslıhan
authors: A
authors: Abbasoğlu
authors: Department of Biostatistics, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa Agah
authors: MA
authors: Tekindal
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Aylin
authors: A
authors: Tarcan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D009055:Mouth / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology
keywords: goniometer; labial angle; mouth; newborn infant; preterm