Purposes
the purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception of bed partners, auto-evaluate individuals with snoring/obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, collect cervical and abdominal circumferences before and after speech therapy, and conduct a myofunctional evaluation to associate the results with the severity of sleep disorder.
Methods
eleven patients between ages 25 and 75 years, of both genders presenting a recent polysomnographic diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome of mild to severe and/or primary snoring were selected as subjects. All patients were subjected to speech therapy, myofunctional clinical assessment, and Berlin (adapted) and Epworth questionnaires before and after therapy.
Results
the data obtained were statistically analyzed with the Wilcoxon test (α = 0.05). Two individuals did not adhere to the treatment. No significant difference was observed between the initial and the final cervical and abdominal circumferences (cervical p = 0.069 / abdominal p = 0.789). All the patients improved their suprahyoid muscles tonus, lowering of the back of tongue, soft palate, bilateral chewing, speech, and nasal breathing. The results of the Berlin questionnaire showed a reduction in the perception of the bed partner in snoring intensity (p = 0.005) more so than frequency (p = 0.05). Significant reductions of the excessive diurnal somnolence were observed in all the patients (p = 0.000).
Conclusions
considering the limitations of this study, it could be concluded that after speech therapy the perceptions of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome/snoring and their bed partners was that their sleep and life quality was improved, there was a reduction of snoring intensity, and an improved in their daily activities due to the excessive diurnal somnolence reduction.
obstructive sleep apnea; snoring; speech therapy
