Somatic and Ear Acupuncture for Dysphagia Rehabilitation and Decannulation After Severe Acquired Brain Injuries

"Based on the patient's condition and the physiology of traditional Chinese medicine, sterile disposable acupuncture needles will be placed on selected points:~Auricular:~* Esophagus point~* Shen Men point~* Palate area/ Throat point~* II and III Trigeminal branches~Somatic:~* 17 Triple heater (if bruxisme)~* 22 Conception Vessel~* 23 Conception Vessel~* 3 Small Intestine~* Yin Tang (if apathy)~* 3 Large Intestine (if xerostomy)~* 36 and 44 Stomach"

"Patients assigned to the control arm will undergo a total of 3 hours of speech and physiotherapy rehabilitation per day from Monday to Friday, and 1 hour on Saturday.~Regarding speech therapy treatment, both restorative and compensatory interventions will be applied, based on the patient's clinical condition.~Compensatory approaches include postural techniques (such as adopting a flexed head posture) and swallowing techniques (e.g., supraglottic swallowing, forced swallowing, the Mendelsohn maneuver), as well as modifying the consistency of liquids and food.~Restorative methods involve swallowing exercises aimed at enhancing muscular strength, resistance training, and motor training of the oral structures involved in swallowing."