Document Type : Letter to Editor

Author

• Leila Ghasisin

Assistant Professor, Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

One of the common symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is swallowing and speech paralysis, which has a significant impact on the quality of life of affected people. Paralytic speech often appears from the very beginning of the disease, and with the progress of the disease, it destroys the possibility of communicating through speech. On the other hand, all the muscles of the tongue, lips, palate, jaw, pharynx, larynx and upper body will gradually become weak or spastic, which will result in ineffective transmission. Speech therapy has a special place in the speech and swallowing rehabilitation of these patients: to facilitate speech, focusing on breathing, correcting inefficient compensatory strategies, and teaching the use of alternative means of communication are done gradually and with the progress of the disease. Swallowing rehabilitation is also necessary with the aim of preventing aspiration and maintaining the person's nutritional level. Although it does not make the patient's swallowing process remain normal, it is very important in improving the person's quality of life. As the disease progresses, it may be necessary to feed other than orally.

Keywords

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Speech therapy
• Swallowing
• Speech paralysis