OBJECTIVE: To describe a speech and hearing therapist's intervention in a Down syndrome carrier who was hospitalized with acute viral bronchiolitis. CASE REPORT: A 3-month old nursing infant with cardiopathy was exclusively breastfed until being hospitalized with symptoms of wheezing and respiratory effort. The infant was diagnosed as having acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB). The patient remained in the hospital for 7 days and received nasoenteric alimentation (NEA) and mechanical ventilation. The speech and hearing therapist's evaluation found that the infant had the orofacial structures of a low and protruded tongue posture, flaccid cheeks and lips at rest, and a disorganized sucking pattern with noisy cervical auscultation. After clinical improvement, the patient had a clinical swallowing examination that included breastfeeding (BF). The examination revealed that the infant had inefficient suction. Because of this, it was recommended that the infant be maintained on NEA, undergo stimulation with BF, and undergo stimulation with non-nutritive sucking (NNS). After a while, the infant was tested again with the maternal breast. The following were observed: appropriate coordination and handling of sucking, swallowing and breathing, and an efficient sucking pattern. This prompted the removal of the nasoenteric tube. CONCLUSION: The evaluation, monitoring, and intervention by speech and hearing professionals are important for the transition from NEA to oral alimentation. This will allow the transition to be performed safely and efficiently.
