Local Vibration in Patients with Severe Acquired Brain Injury

The purpose of the present study is to observe the effects of integrating traditional speech therapy with the new intervention modality of local vibration therapy with Novafon® in patients with sABI. Specifically, this study aims to: (i) Observe and record an increase in trophism of the muscles involved; (ii) improve swallowing and phonatory functions. Twenty-four patients of both sexes with sABI will be recruited, evaluated and treated at the UOC of High Intensity Neurorehabilitation, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS in Rome. Participants included in the study will be randomized into two groups according to a computer-generated sequence: patients in the experimental group (S-G) will perform traditional speech therapy combined with speech therapy using Novafon®; patients in the conventional group (C-G) will perform only traditional speech therapy. The experimental rehabilitation treatment will be carried out at the rate of once a day, 5 days a week for a total of 8 weeks. Each speech therapy session will last a total of 40 minutes. The rehabilitation treatment will be carried out in the room of the patient, who will be placed in a sitting position in a wheelchair or bed, with the backrest inclined at least 45°.