SPEECH THERAPY PRACTICE IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Abstract

To report speech therapy performance in the intensive care unit. This was a descriptive study with a qualitative approach of the experience report type, describing the experiences of a speech therapist resident in intensive care over a period of two years, within the multidisciplinary residency program in an intensive care unit. To carry out data collection, participant observation was used as a strategy, which allowed understanding and describing the object of the experience. In the intensive care unit, patients are in a serious condition, with indicators of dysphagia being common, requiring in-depth and specific knowledge regarding the anatomophysiology of the phonoarticulatory organs. Dysphagia causes a risk of respiratory infection among other conditions. In the intensive care unit, patients require more specialized and continuous professional attention, in addition to a good relationship between the team. Speech therapy within the intensive care unit has generally provided a faster and safer return to normal eating.