GUÍA Y RECOMENDACIÓN PARA LA ATENCIÓN FONOAUDIOLÓGICA Y ABORDAJE DE LA DISFAGIA EN INTERNACIÓN DURANTE LA PANDEMIA DE COVID-19

Abstract

The world is going through a pandemic that changed people's lives and caused alarm even in the health systems of the most developed countries.

Speech language pathology professionals dedicated to the care of swallowing disorders, language, speech, voice and cognition in hospitals and rehabilitation centers, must face the challenge and requirements that the reality imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Speech and language therapy is a discipline that plays an essential role in the care of patients affected with COVID-19 with acute respiratory infection (ARI). The profession is being highly demanded in the world due to the consequences that the disease produces in swallowing and communication, with ongoing research indicating a high prevalence of dysphagia, malnutrition, voice disorders and cognitive fluctuations.

A comprehensive approach to these patients is a fundamental requirement to achieve their decomplexization and their functional and comprehensive rehabilitation.

The purpose of this work is to write a recommendation for the speech therapist who works in hospitalization and rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients detected, suspected, negative or post-covid with swallowing, communicative and cognitive impairments.

The appropriate approach will try to minimize transmission, organize human resources, detect priorities according to patient classification and optimize treatments to improve hospital discharge, times and quality of life.