Sleep Phonoaudiology Council
The area of Sleep Phonoaudiology
Sleep Speech Therapy is considered one of the treatment alternatives for respiratory sleep disorders: snoring and apnea, at all ages, as it acts directly on the muscles of the upper airway through exercises and functional direction, in isolation or associated with other treatments. It is also related to other sleep disorders, the consequences of which impair attention, memory, hearing, learning, voice and communication.
Purpose of the Sleep Phonoaudiology Council
Sleep Speech Therapy aims to contribute to health promotion and disease prevention actions, resulting in better quality of sleep and life for the population. Therefore, it aims to expand the dissemination of the role of Speech Therapy, promote greater multidisciplinary integration, disseminate the relevant scientific publications that show the importance of speech therapy activities and hold courses or symposia for qualification and updating in Speech Therapy, aiming at certification.
Sleep Phonoaudiology Professional
The Sleep Speech Therapist assists in the diagnosis of sleep disorders in general, due to complaints arising from sleep disorders. However, it acts especially in the evaluation and diagnosis of muscle changes present in the oropharyngeal structures that generate snoring or obstructive sleep apnea. It is up to the Speech Therapist to rehabilitate the oropharyngeal musculature and functionality, through Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, directing nasal breathing, chewing and swallowing, appropriate to maintaining the integrity of this musculature.
Training of Sleep Phonoaudiology Professionals
Sleep Speech Therapy should be performed only by speech therapists qualified in prevention, evaluation and speech therapy aimed at disorders and sleep improvement, with a multidisciplinary character. The professional must have, at least three years of professional experience and proof of extensive training in the sleep area in order to be able to participate in the Certification contest in “Speech Therapy in Sleep Medicine” by the Brazilian Association of Sleep (ABS).
Certification in the field of Sleep Speech Therapy
The first competition for Certification in Sleep Speech Therapy took place in 2016 and, since then, it has been happening every year. Its main objective is to evaluate the theoretical-practical domain of the speech therapist regarding the implications, diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. ABS recognizes certified speech therapists as trained because they have successfully achieved the pre-established requirements of this certification.
Representative: Esther Mandelbaum Gonçalves Bianchini – Certified in Sleep Phonoaudiology, specialist in Orofacial Motricity, PhD from FMUSP (CRFa 2-1773 / SP), Professor of the Graduate Program at PUCSP.
Members:
• Camila de Castro Corrêa – Certified in Sleep Phonoaudiology, specialist in Orofacial Motricity, PhD from UNESP (CRFa 5- 17895-2), Professor at the University of Brasília and UNIPLAN.
• Eveli Truksinas – Certified in Sleep Phonoaudiology, technician and polysomnography analyst certified by ABS, master’s student at UNIFESP (CRFa 2- 8110 / SP).
• Luciana Studart – Certified in Sleep Phonoaudiology, specialist in Orofacial Motricity, PhD from UFPE (CRFa 4- 5661 / PE), Professor of the Phonoaudiology course at UFPE.
• Silmara R. Pavani Sovinski – Certified in Sleep Phonoaudiology, specialist in Orofacial Motricity, Master by FOB / USP (CRFa 3- 5826 / PR).
• Vanessa Ieto – Certified in Sleep Phonoaudiology, specialist in Orofacial Motricity, PhD by FMUSP (CRFa 2-13183 / SP).
