The goal of this interventional, randomized, controlled, double-blind pilot study is to assess the superiority of Acupuncture and Auriculotherapy, in addition to conventional speech therapy rehabilitation, for the treatment of dysphagia in patients with severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI) of vascular etiology, who are tracheostomized and have severe cognitive impairment, classified as Level of Cognitive Functioning (LCF) \<4 according to the LCF Scale. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does a treatment of 10 sessions of Acupuncture and Auriculotherapy, in addition to conventional speech therapy rehabilitation, help reduce dysphagia, as measured by clinical and instrumental scales, and shorten the time to decannulation after 4 weeks of treatment? * Is the obtained result maintained 3 months after the end of the rehabilitation treatment? Researchers will compare patients receiving conventional speech therapy rehabilitation with those also undergoing 10 sessions of Acupuncture and Auriculotherapy to determine whether this ancient Chinese technique can improve dysphagia and reduce time to decannulation in patients with vascular sABI and severe cognitive impairment. Participants will be assigned to either the Intervention Group (Acupuncture and Auriculotherapy in addition to conventional rehabilitation) or the Control Group (conventional rehabilitation only). In both groups, conventional speech therapy rehabilitation will consist of 1 hour of treatment per day. The Intervention Group will undergo additional rehabilitation treatment using specific acupuncture and auriculotherapy points.
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
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Significant difference measured by Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) Scale
Timeframe: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks and at 3 months
Significant difference measured by Pooling Score, based on endoscopic landmarks and bedside parameters with relative values
Timeframe: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks and at 3 months