Collaboration of a dentist and speech-language pathologist in the rehabilitation of a stroke patient with dysarthria: a case study.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effectiveness of the collaboration of a dentist and speech-language pathologist (SLP) in the rehabilitation of a stroke patient with dysarthria.
DESIGN: A clinical case report treated in the rehabilitation hospital and dental surgery. SUBJECT: A 71-year-old Japanese man who was admitted to the rehabilitation hospital for speech rehabilitation 2 years and 5 months after a stroke.
METHODS: Provision of prosthesis (palatal lift prosthesis + palatal augmentation prosthesis) for improving velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI) and articulation by dentist, and speech behavioural management by SLP including self-monitoring and bio-feedback training using the See-Scape.
RESULTS: Speech behavioural management proved useful for promoting improvement in speech intelligibility to a functionally sufficient level after improving VPI by prosthesis.
CONCLUSION: The collaborative efforts of the dentist and SLP in the rehabilitation of post-stroke patients with velopharyngeal incompetence should be encouraged.