The use of acupuncture as a complementary procedure in the rehabilitation of phonoaudiological complaints

Abstract

Introduction: Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice currently recognized by the Federal Speech and Hearing Therapy Council through Resolution No. 272/2001. It can be applied as a complement to speech therapy therapies, since it contributes to an overall improvement of the patient, promoting the balance of the individual, decreasing muscular tension, stimulating memory, reducing edema and pain, improving sleep, muscle toning and reduction of depression. Objectives: To verify in the literature the use of acupuncture as a complementary procedure in the rehabilitation of phonoaudiological complaints. Methodology: This is a systematic review through selection and analysis of publications in journals through the descriptors “Speech Therapy”, “Acupuncture”, “Complementary Therapies” and their combinations between. It was considered only the works available free online, published in the platform SciELO, LILACS and Revista Comunicacao, published from 2002 to 2015. Results: We found 9 articles, 44% (n = 4) of the studies presented a case report approach and 56% (n = 5) were group studies. Concerning the areas involved in the studies, there were 80% (n = 10) studies concentrated predominantly in the area of “Orofacial Motricity” and 20% (n = 2) in the “Audiology” area. Conclusion: Acupuncture has provided good results in phonoaudiological complaints, appearing as a complementary pathway to conventional treatments.