Analysis of tongue movements during sucking by infants with cleft lip and palate using a diagnostic ultrasound device: Changes during the six months after birth

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine how bottle feeding movements improved as a result of the fitting of Hotz's plates in infants with cleft lip and palate, with a focus on tongue movements.Materials and methodsThe subjects were 11 infants with cleft lip and palate (CLP infants) and 16 healthy infants, and their sucking movements were observed by diagnostic ultrasound in B/M mode. Measurements were made by placing the echo window beneath the infant's jaw and visualizing frontal and sagittal images of the tongue during sucking movements. Tongue movements during sucking by CLP infants with and without Hotz's plates were compared with those of healthy infants in each of the three groups. A t-test was used to compare values with and without Hotz's plates, a Mann–Whitney U-test was used to compare measurements between CLP and healthy infants, and a Kruskal–Wallis test was used to investigate changes in tongue movements with increasing age.Results and conclusionThe results showed that tongue movements during bottle feeding were larger in CLP infants without Hotz's plates than in CLP infants with Hotz's plates and healthy infants, indicating an unphysiological condition in CLP infants without Hotz's plates. When Hotz's plates were fitted, movements were stable and close to those of healthy infants, suggesting that fitting Hotz's plates is useful.