Hypotonia

Hypotonia in newborns and infants with maternal dup15q is associated with feeding difficulties and gross motor delays.

Suggested Evaluations

Physicians may order the following evaluations to help better diagnose and treat the individual.

Oral motor dysfunction should be assessed at each visit to assess feeding issues due to hypotonia. Evaluations for measurement of growth parameters, nutritional status, and safety of oral intake are recommended.

Clinical Feeding Evaluations and/or Radiographic Swallowing Studies should be obtained for:

• choking/gagging during feeds
•  poor weight gain
•  frequent respiratory illnesses
• feeding refusal that is not otherwise explained

Treatment Considerations:

Assuming that the child is safe to eat by mouth, feeding therapy (typically from an occupational or speech therapist) is recommended to help improve coordination or sensory-related feeding issues. Feeds can be thickened or chilled for safety.

When feeding dysfunction is severe, a nasogastric (NG tube) or gastrostomy (G tube) may be necessary. The most common type of feeding tube is the gastrostomy (G) tube. G-tubes are placed through the abdominal wall into the stomach. This sounds scarier than it is. The G-tube surgery can be performed in three ways: surgically through small incisions using a laparoscope, surgically using a larger open incision, or endoscopically using a scope into the stomach to create the stoma from the inside.