Affiliation:
1. Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil
2. Universidade São Paulo, Brazil
Abstract
ABSTRACT Purpose: to investigate the profile of speech-language-hearing therapists from Northeastern Brazil assisting children presented with congenital Zika syndrome and their perception of these children’s orofacial myofunctional aspects and speech-language-hearing intervention procedures. Methods: a cross-sectional observational study with quantitative/qualitative analysis. The data collection instrument was an online questionnaire with 34 items on the speech-language-hearing therapists’ sociodemographic information and perception of the study topic. The sample comprised 23 speech-language-hearing therapists from the nine Northeastern states. Results: altogether, 96% of the sample were females. Most professionals had more than 3 years of experience with congenital Zika syndrome. Concerning stomatognathic system characterization, the professionals described a greater degree of change in aspects of orofacial muscle posture and mobility. Regarding oral functions, they perceived greater changes in speech and swallowing liquids and solid foods. There was a greater degree of change in masticating solids than in swallowing liquids. Conclusion: most speech-language-hearing therapists in the research had a specialization degree, especially in dysphagia and oral-motor control. Most of them had more than 3 years of experience following up with children with congenital Zika syndrome, which indicates a satisfactory time working with this population to help identify orofacial myofunctional changes in them. The professionals stated that orofacial muscle posture and mobility, speech, and swallowing liquids and solid foods were the most changed aspects.
Subject
Materials Chemistry,Economics and Econometrics,Media Technology,Forestry,General Medicine
Reference25 articles.
1. Desafios para o enfrentamento da epidemia de microcefalia;Henriques CMP;Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde,2016
2. Zika virus intrauterine infection causes fetal brain abnormality and microcephaly: tip of the iceberg?;Melo ASO;Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol,2016
3. Association between Zika virus infection and microcephaly in Brazil, January to May, 2016: preliminary report of a case-control study;Araújo TVB;Lancet Infect Dis,2016
4. Zika Virus infection in pregnant women and microcephaly;Duarte G;Rev. Bras. Ginecol. Obstet,2017
5. Zika vírus associado à microcefalia;Menezes HLS;Rev Pato Tocantins,2016