PAL to Improve Oral Feeding for Infants With Chronic Lung Disease

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the Pacifier Activated Lullaby (PAL) intervention on the transition to oral feeding for preterm infants with chronic lung disease and respiratory distress syndrome that require non-invasive respiratory support at 34 weeks PMA. This study will utilize a clinical trial design. Participants will be randomized into two groups. One group will receive the PAL intervention, the other group serving as a no contact control. Participants will be matched based on sex, gestational age at birth, and neurologic injury. Infants in the intervention group will receive two PAL sessions a week until successfully transitioned to \<2L of respiratory support and then receive one PAL session within 24 hours of their first oral feeding attempt.

Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at MU Healthcare receive consultations for music therapy services upon admission. The PAL intervention used in this study is a part of routine care that would happen regardless of participation in this study. The Music Therapist will discuss study with the parents of infants who meet inclusion criteria between 32 to 34 weeks PMA. Clinical all infants on non-invasive respiratory support have a room air trial at 34 weeks PMA. Infants who fail their room air trail and are still on non-invasive respiratory support that is \>2L will be randomized to either the control or intervention group. The control group will receive no additional intervention. The experimental group will begin 2 PAL sessions per gestation week of age such that infants receive two sessions between 34 0/7 and 34 6/7, two sessions between 35 0/7 and 35 6/7, etc. When the infant is on \<2L of respiratory support they will receive one more PAL session within 24 hours prior to their first oral feeding attempt.Infants in the experimental group will receive no additional PAL sessions after they begin oral feeding trials. PAL sessions will utilize the Pacifier Activated Lullaby device (PAL®) that is an FDA cleared medical device for use with preterm infants in the NICU. Sessions will be 15 minutes in length and be during the infant's gavage feed.The music therapist will get approval from the bedside RN prior to beginning any PAL sessions.The infant will be prompted with the pacifier by touching the pacifier to the infant's lips. If the infant doesn't accept pacifier in mouth after 3 attempts the music therapy will gently stroke the infant's cheeks to prompt the rooting reflex and then prompt with the pacifier. If the infant doesn't accept the pacifier in their mouth, then the music therapist will stop the session attempt and it will not count as a PAL session. If the infant pauses in non-nutritive sucking (NNS) for more than 30 seconds with music therapist will prompt the infant by moving pacifier in infant's mouth. This will be attempted 3 times if needed. If the infant still doesn't engage in NNS then the music therapy will stroke the infant's cheek and then move pacifier in mouth. This will be done twice. If the infant still does not engage in NNS then the session will be ended. The session will count if it lasted 8 minutes in length prior to the music therapist beginning prompting. If it was less than 8 minutes then it will not count towards a completed PAL session.