Atuação fonoaudiológica na unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal – revisão integrativa

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Preterm babies are more vulnerable to complications, especially in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), where factors such as infectious diseases and perinatal conditions are frequent (MS, 2021). Speech-language pathology and audiology in the NICU is essential to promote the health of newborns, with a focus on oral functions, feeding, and communication. Early intervention favors the development of stomatognathic functions and the clinical stability of babies. Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the speech-language pathology and audiology performance in the neonatal ICU, in preterm babies through an integrative review. Method: Integrative review study, carried out by searching for articles published between 2020 and 2024 in scientific databases, in Portuguese, that address speech-language pathology and audiology performance in preterm newborns with speech-language pathology and audiology performance. Results and Discussion: Eight articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected. The data were organized into tables and charts, categorizing the research by type, year of publication, state, and description of speech-language pathology activities. The results demonstrated that the work of the speech-language pathologist in the NICU is essential for the assessment of oral functions (sucking, swallowing, and breathing), intervention in feeding (adaptation of techniques and use of devices), and early stimulation of communication. The analysis of the medical records contributed to personalizing the interventions and working together with the multidisciplinary team, providing food safety, clinical stabilization, and neurofunctional development. Conclusion: The research highlighted the importance of the speech-language pathologist in the NICU, especially in newborns, acting early and in an integrated manner to promote the development, well-being, and quality of life of the baby and his/her family. Key words: “NICU”, “speech-language pathology”, “babies”, “neonatal”.