Response of facial muscles in facial palsy

• Grant number: 08/02687-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2008
• End date: November 30, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Cláudia Regina Furquim de Andrade
• Grantee: Paula Nunes Toledo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The purpose of this research will be to characterize the orofacial functions of individuals with the diagnosis of facial palsy and of normal individuals through clinical and instrumental speech-language assessment. For the group of individuals with facial palsy, a pre and post-treatment control will also be done. Participants of this study will be 50 individuals of both genders with ages between 18 and 60 years. These individuals will be divided in two groups, paired according to age and gender. The group of individuals with facial palsy will be composed by 25 individuals. The control group will be composed by 25 individuals without the diagnosis of facial palsy. Clinical and instrumental assessments will be carried out. Individuals with facial palsy will be referred to assessment by the Service of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burn of the Central Institute of Hospital das Clinicas, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (ICHC FMUSP).