The suck/swallow/breathe (SSB) synchrony adopted from birth has an important impact on the rest of our lives. The SSB synchrony effects our everyday functioning: from feeding, to looking, to coordinating our eyes and hands, to maintaining our balance, to communicating.
Sucking, swallowing and breathing are three vital functions that work in perfect harmony in the feeding individual, with breathing ceasing momentarily while the swallow takes place. The SSB is evident from the newborn’s first feed and the three components work together to be able to provide food to the infant. However, it is not only for nutritive purposes that the SSB synchrony is so important. As this pattern develops, it still remains at the core of all of life’s functions, from the infant’s feeding, to him sucking his thumb for comfort, to an adult chewing gum during periods of concentration.
The perfect harmony and synchrony of the body working together is amazing, with everything stemming from the SSB synchrony. It initially helps develop oral musculature. At the same time the infant is becoming more aware of his surroundings. As he grows and develops it helps him gain more head, neck, shoulder and trunk control, which in turn help him to become more mobile. Aided by a curiosity of the surrounding environment he starts exploring the space around him (oral, grasp, visual and distant space), and at the core is still the SSB synchrony as it is effecting the internal and external development all the time.
Obviously the SSB synchrony also effects oral and verbal communication, since both mechanisms use the same musculature. Thus, having weak muscle tone in the oral area, oral defensiveness or sensory processing difficulties will effect sound, speech and language development. Before there is any speech, however, a bond needs to be established between infant and caregiver. It is the mentioned synchrony that helps to build such a bond. The SSB physiologically effects vision so that it guides the infant to look at and focus on the caregiver while feeding. Such looking gradually develops into perception and mutual “falling in love”.
Those who want to know more about the SSB synchrony and practical examples on how to promote it in children who have difficulties in this area can find this information in the book: M.O.R.E. – Integrating the Mouth with Sensory and Postural Functions by Oetter, Richter & Frick.
Taken from: Oetter, Richter & Frick, M.O.R.E. – Integrating the Mouth with Sensory and Postural Functions
by Stephanie Woodhouse