Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2014; 18 - a2453
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1389045

Case Report: Phonoaudiology Findings in Multiple Sclerosis

Amanda Steyer Bacellar 1, Carolina Nunes Laux 1, Lauren Paniagua 1, Maria Cristina Cardoso 1
  • 1Fundação Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre

Introduction: The Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease with autoimmunity reaction that leads to several commitments due to injuries in the central nervous system. Can lead to problems in speech, change in orofacial motor, and feeding difficulties. The monitoring of patients with this diagnosis should be multidisciplinary.

Objective: To identify the speech-language diseases findings and describe the therapeutic approach in a case of MS.

Report: C.A., 23 years, male; referral to the speech-language therapy team linked to a stage of a federal university in January 2014. The main complaints of the patient: deterioration in general health, tiredness in daily activities, reduced motor coordination, slow speech, biting his tongue, and eventual choking on liquid consistency. In the speech-language evaluation for dysarthria the following changes were found: difficulty in mobility phonoarticulatory; slurred speech; articulatory imprecision; pneumophonoarticulatory incoordination. By results, the speech‐language focus was directed to the changes in speech but were performed orientations about the protective maneuvers to the swallow.

Conclusion: At the moment, the patient has changes regarding the speech. Although the patient had not yet pronounced difficulty in swallowing, the team also predicted, in his intervention, some preventive guidelines for safe swallowing food. The prognosis is determined by the MS disease course; therefore, it is for speech-language therapists be alert regarding changes identified during monitoring.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, phonoaudiology, therapeutic.