Methodological procedures for ultrasonographic assessment of the tongue during sucking in full-term infants: A scoping review

Abstract Background This scoping review aimed to identify methodological procedures for acquiring and analyzing ultrasound images of the tongue during sucking in full-term infants. The Participants, Concept, and Context strategy was used to define the inclusion criteria: population (full-term infant...

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Main Authors: Anna Fernanda Ferreira de Alves Melo, Roberta Lopes de Castro Martinelli, Rodrigo Alves de Andrade, Ana Paula Alves Figueiredo Lima, Aline Natallia Simões de Almeida, Anna Clara Mota Duque, Daniele Andrade da Cunha, Hilton Justino da Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05636-2
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author Anna Fernanda Ferreira de Alves Melo
Roberta Lopes de Castro Martinelli
Rodrigo Alves de Andrade
Ana Paula Alves Figueiredo Lima
Aline Natallia Simões de Almeida
Anna Clara Mota Duque
Daniele Andrade da Cunha
Hilton Justino da Silva
author_facet Anna Fernanda Ferreira de Alves Melo
Roberta Lopes de Castro Martinelli
Rodrigo Alves de Andrade
Ana Paula Alves Figueiredo Lima
Aline Natallia Simões de Almeida
Anna Clara Mota Duque
Daniele Andrade da Cunha
Hilton Justino da Silva
author_sort Anna Fernanda Ferreira de Alves Melo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This scoping review aimed to identify methodological procedures for acquiring and analyzing ultrasound images of the tongue during sucking in full-term infants. The Participants, Concept, and Context strategy was used to define the inclusion criteria: population (full-term infants); concept (ultrasound assessment); and context (assessment of tongue movements during sucking). Methods It included observational, experimental, descriptive, and analytical studies, and excluded those unavailable in full, with premature infants, babies with craniofacial changes and syndromes, studies on animals, in vitro, letters to the editor, errata, and using ultrasound for other purposes. There were no language or time restrictions. Two blinded professionals independently selected 20 articles that met the inclusion criteria from different databases. Results The most evaluated parameters were related to the morphometric and kinematic aspects of the tongue, considering the physical behavior of the nipple and bottle nipple; sucking, swallowing, and breathing; distance from the tip of the nipple to the hard-soft palate junction; and milk flow. An endocavity transducer was positioned in the submental region at 5 MHz to 8 MHz.  Conclusions The studies present the acquisition and static analysis of ultrasound images of the tongue, hard and soft palate, nipple, and bottle nipple, and of kinematic measurements of the tongue, nipple, bottle nipple, and hyoid bone. They evaluated quantitative and qualitative parameters. Frequency adjustment depended on the child’s age (the B mode was the most used), with babies reclined on the mother’s lap to feed from the mother’s breast and/or bottle.
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spelling doaj-art-d6b60918c701415ab42f0c5eedbc0bb22025-08-20T03:08:44ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312025-05-0125113110.1186/s12887-025-05636-2Methodological procedures for ultrasonographic assessment of the tongue during sucking in full-term infants: A scoping reviewAnna Fernanda Ferreira de Alves Melo0Roberta Lopes de Castro Martinelli1Rodrigo Alves de Andrade2Ana Paula Alves Figueiredo Lima3Aline Natallia Simões de Almeida4Anna Clara Mota Duque5Daniele Andrade da Cunha6Hilton Justino da Silva7Federal University of PernambucoSanta Therezinha HospitalFederal University of Santa Catarina, UFSCFederal University of PernambucoFederal University of PernambucoFederal University of PernambucoFederal University of PernambucoFederal University of PernambucoAbstract Background This scoping review aimed to identify methodological procedures for acquiring and analyzing ultrasound images of the tongue during sucking in full-term infants. The Participants, Concept, and Context strategy was used to define the inclusion criteria: population (full-term infants); concept (ultrasound assessment); and context (assessment of tongue movements during sucking). Methods It included observational, experimental, descriptive, and analytical studies, and excluded those unavailable in full, with premature infants, babies with craniofacial changes and syndromes, studies on animals, in vitro, letters to the editor, errata, and using ultrasound for other purposes. There were no language or time restrictions. Two blinded professionals independently selected 20 articles that met the inclusion criteria from different databases. Results The most evaluated parameters were related to the morphometric and kinematic aspects of the tongue, considering the physical behavior of the nipple and bottle nipple; sucking, swallowing, and breathing; distance from the tip of the nipple to the hard-soft palate junction; and milk flow. An endocavity transducer was positioned in the submental region at 5 MHz to 8 MHz.  Conclusions The studies present the acquisition and static analysis of ultrasound images of the tongue, hard and soft palate, nipple, and bottle nipple, and of kinematic measurements of the tongue, nipple, bottle nipple, and hyoid bone. They evaluated quantitative and qualitative parameters. Frequency adjustment depended on the child’s age (the B mode was the most used), with babies reclined on the mother’s lap to feed from the mother’s breast and/or bottle.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05636-2TongueSuctionUltrasonographyBreast FeedingInfantNewborn
spellingShingle Anna Fernanda Ferreira de Alves Melo
Roberta Lopes de Castro Martinelli
Rodrigo Alves de Andrade
Ana Paula Alves Figueiredo Lima
Aline Natallia Simões de Almeida
Anna Clara Mota Duque
Daniele Andrade da Cunha
Hilton Justino da Silva
Methodological procedures for ultrasonographic assessment of the tongue during sucking in full-term infants: A scoping review
BMC Pediatrics
Tongue
Suction
Ultrasonography
Breast Feeding
Infant
Newborn
title Methodological procedures for ultrasonographic assessment of the tongue during sucking in full-term infants: A scoping review
title_full Methodological procedures for ultrasonographic assessment of the tongue during sucking in full-term infants: A scoping review
title_fullStr Methodological procedures for ultrasonographic assessment of the tongue during sucking in full-term infants: A scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Methodological procedures for ultrasonographic assessment of the tongue during sucking in full-term infants: A scoping review
title_short Methodological procedures for ultrasonographic assessment of the tongue during sucking in full-term infants: A scoping review
title_sort methodological procedures for ultrasonographic assessment of the tongue during sucking in full term infants a scoping review
topic Tongue
Suction
Ultrasonography
Breast Feeding
Infant
Newborn
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05636-2
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