SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY INTERVENTION IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS: A THEORETICAL APPROACH

Abstract

Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) is a condition characterized by a set of structural alterations in the temporomandibular joint and the masticatory muscles of the stomatognathic system. It is the main cause of orofacial pain, limited mouth opening, joint noises, mandibular deviations, and impairments in mastication, swallowing, and speech functions. It is associated with deleterious habits, such as onychophagia, bruxism, digital and lingual suction, among others. Studies have shown a significant presence of orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) in individuals with TMD, especially during mastication and swallowing functions. Speech-language pathology plays a fundamental role in the rehabilitation of these patients through orofacial myofunctional exercises and specific therapeutic resources. The objective of this study is to present the speech-language pathology contribution to the management of temporomandibular disorders. This is a theoretical study, with a descriptive nature and qualitative approach, conducted in scientific databases. Articles were included if they incorporated into their objectives the description of speech-language pathology intervention proposals, published in Portuguese and English, in electronic databases of scientific relevance, including: PubMed/MEDLINE; SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online); LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences); and Google Scholar, published between 2020 and 2025. TMD treatment consisted of one or more modalities, grouped according to the orofacial myofunctional therapy protocol for TMD. Necessary care to avoid overload, strategies for pain relief, orofacial function training, and the use of elastic therapeutic taping in clinical speech-language pathology practice were also performed. It is concluded, therefore, that speech-language pathology intervention contributes to the treatment, rehabilitation, and pain reduction of individuals with TMD.