Percepção de fonoaudiólogos quanto aos aspectos oromiofuncionais de crianças com síndrome congênita pelo Zika vírus

Abstract

Introduction: in the second half of 2015, an increase in the number of children born with microcephaly was observed in Brazil, more specifically in the northeast. From this moment on health professionals, including the speech therapist, needed to provide assistance to children with this new condition. Objective: To investigate the perception and sociodemographic profile of speech therapists from Northeastern Brazil who work with children with Zika Virus Congenital Syndrome, regarding the oromyofunctional aspects and speech therapy intervention procedures. Method: this is a cross-sectional and observational study, with quantitative and qualitative analysis. The data collection instrument was an online questionnaire available on the Google forms platform, with 34 questions covering both sociodemographic data and the perception of speech therapists regarding the subject studied. The sample consisted of 23 speech therapists from the nine northeastern states. Results: in the characterization of the stomatoglossognathic system, the greatest degree of alteration was observed in posture and mobility of the orofacial muscles. In relation to the most impaired functions, the significance for speech and swallowing was observed, predominantly of liquid and solid. In the rehabilitation process, 87% of speech therapists reported using elastic bandage as one of the therapeutic resources, which is the most significant. Conclusion: in the perception of speech therapists who work with individuals with Syndrome due to Congenital Zika virus, the posture and mobility of the orofacial muscles are the most altered aspects, as well as the speech and swallowing functions of solid and liquid.