Ear stimulation helps babies avoid feeding tubes

This study tested a device that gently stimulates a nerve in the ear to help babies who have trouble feeding. The goal was to see if this stimulation, given during bottle feeds for 10 days, could help babies eat enough by mouth to avoid needing a feeding tube. The study included 17 infants who were at risk of getting a feeding tube. Some babies got the stimulation and some did not, and if no progress was made after 10 days, they could switch to the other group.