Assessment and treatment of speech disorders in Myasthenia Gravis

Speech disorders are common in people with Myasthenia Gravis (MG) and these are sometimes the onset symptom of this disease, especially in people with bulbar MG. Speech disorders concerning voice, articulation, and resonance are related to MG. These conditions correspond with the signs of flaccid dysarthria. Objective: This study aimed to describe the production of scientific literature about the methods, tools and techniques of evaluation and treatment of speech disorders in MG. Method: The reviewed articles were searched in PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scielo, and Biblioteca Virtual en Salud (BVS) online databases with different word combinations. Nine of the articles found were analyzed according to general and specific bibliometric parameters. Results: From 1239 retrieved articles, only 9 met the selection criteria and most of them were published in the United States and corresponded to case-control studies. All the studies reported speech evaluation techniques and only 2 of them mentioned treatment techniques. Discussion: The information contained in the articles did not allow for consensus on the most appropriate tools for the diagnosis of secondary speech disorders related to MG, nor did it allow to obtain data about the treatment methods and techniques used. This shows a considerable need to develop studies that support speech interventions (assessment and treatment) and thus provide clinicians with valid and reliable information to work with MG patients.