Estimulação Transcraniana: utilização por profissionais na fonoaudiologia.

Abstract

Introduction: The transmission of low-power electrical currents or magnetic fields to the human brain via transcranial stimulation is a procedure that attempts to alter the activity of neurons and explore their potential as a form of therapeutic intervention. Among the most common methods are Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS and tDCS, both used to treat disorders. tDCS is the process of directly applying a small-scale current to the brain, while Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation tDCS employs an alternating current method. Before performing transcranial stimulation, it is common for additional tests to be requested to assess the patient's health and ability to participate in the procedure. Objective: To investigate the use of transcranial stimulation by speech therapy professionals in Brazil. Method: This is a quantitative, analytical, observational, cross-sectional study carried out with speech therapy professionals from all over Brazil; with a probabilistic sample. Results: Among the 37 professionals surveyed, 94.3% declared that they use tDCS as a complementary technique to treat and stimulate areas of the brain involved in language and speech. Regarding the pathology, 48.6% responded that they use it to treat aphasia, 28.6% for dysphagia and 22.8% apraxia of speech in childhood. The therapeutic effects are perceived by 88.6% of professionals. These effects include improvements in speech, language, speech motor actions, planning and naming. Conclusion: Because Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TCSD) is a non-invasive technique and uses a low-intensity electrical current to modulate neuronal activity, it has been used to treat a variety of neurological conditions, including aphasia, dysphagia and apraxia of speech in childhood.