The Speech Therapist in theNeonatal Intensive Care Unit: professional evolution in the multidisciplinary team

Abstract

The increase in survival of premature newborns and newborns affected by clinically complex pathologies corresponds to
an increase in the incidence of newborns showing signs of dysphagia. The article reports the progress of the speech therapist
profession in the neonatal field and proposes a model of speech therapy intervention, built on the basis of information found in scientific literature and gained through clinical practice, specifically dedicated to prevention, evaluation and treatment activities for newborns who present oral feeding disorder or difficulties in the transition from enteral nutrition (nasogastric tube) to oral feeding (breastfeeding/baby bottle). The achievement of safe, effective and independent Full Oral Feeding represents one of the fundamental criteria for the discharge of the newborn from the NICU (AA, 2008-2018).