What is the ability to suck or absorb something? What is its importance and usefulness to humans? Are there diseases as a result of which the sucking reflex is incompletely present? These questions regarding sucking and the ability to suck are answered in the following article.
What is sucking?
The sucking reflex is innate in the newborn. Only by sucking can it effectively take in food in time to swallow and digest it. The ability to take in liquids by sucking physiologically follows the innate sucking reflex, which is lost between six and twelve months of age. The newborn has an inherent reflex to look for its mother’s breast immediately after birth. If something touches its cheek, it turns its head there. If the nipple then touches the lips or the tip of the tongue, the mouth will close around the nipple and the newborn will start to suck. It only makes these searching movements with its mouth when it gets hungry – just before the hunger stimulus becomes too strong and it cries out for food at the top of its lungs. Just like the search reflex, the sucking reflex is innate in the newborn. Only by sucking can it effectively take in food in time to swallow and digest it. By the age of six to twelve months, the central nervous system has developed to the point where the reflex is replaced by voluntary and volitional sucking. If the sucking reflex persists as a reflex and does not disappear, it may be a sign of brain damage-just as brain damage may cause other innate reflexes to persist that normally disappear (for example, in infantile cerebral palsy).
Function and task
The ability to absorb fluids into oneself by sucking persists throughout life. This process occurs in alternation and coordination with breathing. Breathing closes the esophagus. When a person ingests food or liquid, a reflex by the laryngeal larynx closes the trachea so that food and liquid cannot be inhaled into the lungs. Associated with the ability to suck is a functioning motor function in the mouth area: The lips, tongue, jaw, soft palate, pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles are mentioned here. Sucking and swallowing movements, transport and breathing must be motorically coordinated, because aspiration (swallowing) of liquids and food can lead to pneumonia. The cough reflex protects against aspiration.
Diseases and ailments
The ability to absorb, swallow, and digest fluids by sucking is essential for human survival, even after infancy. Sometimes this function can be impaired. This is the case with neurological diseases or diseases in the ear, nose and throat area. The ability to suck liquids and take in food can also be impaired as a result of the human aging process. A disturbance in the ability to suck and swallow may be manifested by the following signs, which are often not taken seriously: these are frequent swallowing, coughing and throat clearing, a hoarse or raspy voice. Fluid, food and saliva cannot be kept in the mouth and fall or flow out. Due to a lack of muscle activity and coordination of control, food remains in the mouth or throat for too long. The intake of food also consumes a lot of time. With poor motor activity and coordination, few or no sucking or chewing movements are visible. Consequences of inadequate food and fluid intake include weight loss, dehydration, and bronchitis. There may also be the onset of a sudden fever of unclear cause and pneumonia. To improve food intake, care must be taken to maintain an upright posture while sitting. The back may need to be leaning or supported. Bent arms resting on the table also help. Liquids can be sucked up in small sips using a straw or a special drinking cup. Logopedic problems – articulation of speech – and problems with breathing and digestion are usually associated with the disturbance of the sucking, chewing and swallowing function. To improve the sucking function, logopedic speech exercises or exercises of local oral motor function are necessary.Diseases that can result in impaired sucking and swallowing ability include Parkinson’s disease, injuries and tumors of the swallowing tract (tongue, palatal arch, palatine tonsil, pharynx, esophagus), or stroke. After tumor surgery in this region, problems may eventually persist if the damage is so severe that suag ability cannot be restored. Various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or more severe traumatic brain injury can result in impaired sucking and swallowing function. In people with infantile cerebral palsy, a gothic jaw with malpositioned teeth and orthodontic problems can develop as a result of incorrect muscle tone and inappropriate innervation in the mouth and pharynx. Sucking, swallowing and speech are also disturbed in this case. In people with disabilities, the sucking reflex and later the ability to take in liquids by sucking may be disturbed. Triggers can be any disability that affects the central nervous system.
