Results The inability to sustain sucking at 46 weeks PMA (OR, 6.25; 95% CI, 1.29-30.35) and the absence of a
mature sucking pattern at 44 weeks PMA (OR, 6.30; 95% CI, 1.40-28.32) significantly increased the odds of
abnormal neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 2 years. The ORs of the Neonatal Oral-Motor Assessment Scale
items assessing rhythmic jaw movements, rhythmic tongue movements, and coordination among sucking, swallowing,
and respiration were high shortly after term, but failed to reach significance