BACKGROUND: sleeping is necessary to provide us with energy. However, snoring and sleep apnea become obstacles that cause not only health problems, but also social, marital and educational issues. PURPOSE: contribute with a better understanding of the causes to the speech therapist, as well as the diagnosis and forms of treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Facilitate the definition of conduct by the therapist, be it a guide for a diagnosis, a treatment for that disease (through speech therapy) or the indication of medical treatment (surgical or conservative). CONCLUSION: some possible speech pathologies found in these patients are: enlarged tongue presenting hypotonia, soft palate with increased volume, difficulty in feeding due to insufficient intake of air and bruxism, possibly caused by tension and anxiety of bad night's sleep. Other changes can be found due to surgical treatment used in some cases, such as dysphagia or even alterations in speech and resonance of speech caused by an uvulopalatoplasty. The focus of speech therapy is the myotherapy of the involved muscles, prioritizing the palatal muscles. It is perceived that the speech therapists can help to ease the symptoms found in these diseases, providing a better life quality for their patients.
Snoring; Speech Therapy; Sleep Apnea Obstructive; Myofunctional Therapy