INTRODUCTION: Non-Progressive Chronic Encephalopathy (NPCE) refers to motor damage acquired before the first two years of life which is not evolutionary, which manifests movement and posture dysfunction. Besides the delay in motor acquisition, the subject affected by this pathology can present problems with vision, cognition, communication and behavior, depending on the severity of the neurological deficit. Therefore, there is the need for a team of health professionals to assist this patient as well as the need of a humanistic view on this service. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the discourse of physiotherapists on their way of communicating with subjects with chronic non-progressive encephalopathy (CNPE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individual interviews with open questions were conducted on the theme. Data analysis was done by selecting and grouping the most relevant ideas about the topic through critical and relational analysis. RESULTS: Although non-verbal communication mentioned by the physiotherapists through kinesics (facial and body expression) has been emphasized as important and present in the physiotherapy session with subjects with CNPE, the group claim having problems in interpreting the body language of these subjects. This topic seems to have been neglected in the academic life of most of the investigated physiotherapists. Likewise, there is a kind of lack of knowledge of the benefits of using alternative and augmentative communication (AAC). CONCLUSION: The results suggest the need of expanding the training of physiotherapists in relation to communication within a perspective of a greater humanization of services to subjects with NPE.
Communication; Physiotherapy; Encephalopathy; Humanization
