Impact of speech therapy intervention in systemic sclerosis

Abstract

Introduction: The literature is scarce in orofacial myofunctional changes report in subjects with progressive systemic sclerosis and the possibilities of speech therapy intervention in this disorder. Purpose: Show the results from the proposed miofunctional therapeutic. Methods: A 43 years old female patient was forwarded by the rheumatologist for evaluation and speech therapy procedures. She presented, as main complaint, restricted opening of the mouth. Speech therapy evaluation found 26.9 mm as maximum aperture value of mouth, face stiffened, looking mask, limited movements of the tongue due to the rigidity and the anterior sublingual frenulum, thin lips with the usual position of rest parted, tension of the orbicularis oris and stiffness of the larynx during swallowing. The therapeutic objectives were: stimulate and enable the execution of mandibular movements minimizing muscle constraint. Procedures regarding the increase of the amplitude of mouth through relaxation, stretching, massage, isotonic and isometric movements and specific maneuvers were essential to stabilize the opening of the mouth, releasing the mandibular movements and coordinate them, improving the functionality of the stomatognathic system. Results: After 35 sessions: 10 mm gain at the opening, improvement of oral hygiene, better articulation of speech, improvements on the functions of chewing and swallowing, lip seal (though unsystematic) and in facial aesthetics. Conclusion: The orofacial miofunctional speech therapy was effective in systemic sclerosis and more studies should be performed to allow greater approximation between Speech Therapy and Rheumatology.