What is it about?
The impact on speech, swallowing and pragmatics from facial burns and the role of the Speech Language Pathologist is described. Often facial burns are tended to after the larger burns and appendages are splinted and cared for resulting in early oral and facial contractures. Coordinated care with the Speech Pathologist can improve outcomes in this arena.
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Why is it important?
Many interdisciplinary burn teams do not have active involvement by the Speech Language Pathologist in the early stages of oro-facial contracture management which has shown to improve outcomes when started early.
Perspectives
The role of Speech Language Pathologists in burn care continues to grow. Speech therapists are uniquely positioned due to their training in cranial nerves, facial nerves and musculature to be able to assist with early facial mobilization in burn patients. This active involvement can improve the overall outcomes for speech, swallowing and pragmatics.
Kathleen Kerr
University of Texas Medical Branch
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Speech-Language Pathology's Role in Management of Orofacial Contractures After a Facial Burn, Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, October 2022, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA),
DOI: 10.1044/2022_persp-21-00337.
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