Clinical evolution of children who adapted to the speech valve resource: a self-reported study by parents

ABSTRACT

Purpose  To describe the clinical picture of tracheostomized children before and after the speech valve adaptation, through the parents’ perception.

Methods  Retrospective cohort study with convenience sampling through an online survey via REDCap. Parents of tracheostomized or decannulated children aged up to 6 years and 11 months, who had or had not adapted the speech valve, participated in this study. Descriptive analyses were performed.

Results  In total, 96 parents of tracheostomized children participated, of which 26 adapted the speech valve. Parents reported improvement in dysphagia, in the child’s vocalization and reduction in the number of endotracheal aspirations. In addition, they described improvement in the child’s general clinical condition in 22 (84%) of the cases.

Conclusion  When indicated, the adaptation of the speech valve improves swallowing and facilitates the normal production of phonation. Thus, the device can help prevent aspiration pneumonia and nutritional complications, as well as aid in the speech development of tracheostomized children.

Keywords:
Tracheostomy; Child; Speech valve; Deglutition; Deglutition disorders