ABSTRACT
Purpose
To determine whether the use of electromyographic biofeedback in the therapy of orofacial functions (facial expression, chewing, swallowing, phonation and speech) will result in beneficial effects for individuals with neurological diseases.
Research strategy
A keyword search was conducted in the MEDLINE, LILACS and SciELO databases, using the terms “electromyographic biofeedback”, “swallowing”, “speech”, “chewing”, “phonation”, and “facial expression”. The database search and the selection of papers were conducted independently by two researchers. In case of any disagreement, there was a discussion based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, so that they could reach a common ground.
Selection criteria
This work has included experimental studies in humans, in English and Portuguese, which described and discussed the use of electromyographic biofeedback in the treatment of orofacial function diseases resulting from neurological illness.
Results
A total of 175 papers were found, wherein only 10 fitted the inclusion criteria. Most works were case studies, followed by case series, case control, and only one randomized controlled trial. Most of studies addressed the therapy with electromyographic biofeedback in the swallowing function, followed by speech function, and only one study addressed the use of electromyographic biofeedback in therapy to improve facial expression. No studies addressing speech therapy using electromyographic biofeedback in patients with neurological diseases in the functions of phonation and chewing were found.
Conclusion
The use of electromyographic biofeedback in the therapy for orofacial functions can result in beneficial effects for individuals with neurological diseases in the swallowing, speech, and facial expression functions.
Electromyography; Deglutition; Speech; Mastication; Phonation; Facial expression
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