PURPOSE: to investigate the efficacy of therapeutic intervention in swallowing and clinical stability of children with choreoathetoid cerebral palsy and oropharyngeal dysphagia. METHODS: 11 children with choreoathetoid cerebral palsy, three years and three months old on average, under speech therapy. Data related to staff classification (FOIS scale); dysphagia degree; bronchopneumonia, airway secretions and weight; food consistency; suggestive signs of tracheal aspiration. Data were collected in their medical records before and after therapeutic intervention. RESULTS: data related to FOIS scale indicated that before and after therapeutic intervention, the majority of the patients were in V level, with reduction in the second moment. Increase of the patients in the III and IV levels. After therapeutic intervention, there was reduction of the patients who had liquid foods, increase the use of Jelly-O and homogenic pasty. The severity of dysphagia was reduced as well as the incidence of bronchopneumonia and airway secretions, increase in weight and a reduction of suggestive signs of tracheal aspiration. CONCLUSION: speech and language therapy intervention, together with the work of a multidisciplinary dysphagia team, promotes better swallowing efficacy and security, with a decrease in suggestive signs of tracheal aspiration, bronchopneumonia and weight increase.
Cerebral Palsy; Deglutition Disorders; Speech Therapy
