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Dysphagia research

Everything we have read on dysphagia. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

715 PAPERS · PAGE 13 OF 15 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTSLPCohort2025Head Lifting Strength is Associated with Pharyngeal Residuals in Older Inpatients with Suspected Dysphagia.DysphagiaOlder inpatients who could perform fewer head lifts from a lying position had more food and liquid left in their throat after swallowing. This simple test, requiring no special equipment, correlates with swallowing residue.
• SLPSurvey2026Examining the Use of Pill Swallowing in Dysphagia Assessment: A Survey of Common Practices.DysphagiaMost SLPs sometimes assess pill swallowing during VFSS, but few do it routinely or include it in their protocols. Many recommend medication changes without testing pill swallowing, and only half consult other team members when they do.
• SLPOther2025Use of Transfer Learning for the Automated Segmentation and Detection of Swallows via Digital Cervical Auscultation in Children.DysphagiaA new machine learning tool automatically found 81% of swallows in children's cervical auscultation recordings. This removes the need for time-consuming manual audio sorting, but the tool detects swallows only, not aspiration itself.
• OTSLPSurvey2025The Feeding-swallowing Impact Survey: Reference Values from a UK Sample of Parents of Children Without a Known or Suspected Feeding Disorder.DysphagiaFor UK parents of children without diagnosed feeding disorders, the Feeding-swallowing Impact Survey scores are very low, with a median total of 20 on a 18-90 scale. This provides a baseline showing that typical mealtime challenges rarely cause significant family quality of life impairment.
• SLPCohort2025Effects of Telemedicine on Dysphagia Rehabilitation in Patients Requiring Home Care: A Retrospective Study.DysphagiaPatients who switched to video-based swallowing care when home visits stopped had fewer swallowing-related complications than those whose care was suspended. This suggests maintaining contact via telemedicine helps prevent adverse events when face-to-face visits are impossible.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Dysphagia and Oral Health in Older Adults with Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome.DysphagiaCommunity-dwelling older adults with motoric cognitive risk syndrome reported significantly more swallowing difficulty than those without. Each one-point increase on the swallowing questionnaire raised the odds of having the syndrome by 13%. Oral health scores did not predict the syndrome.
• SLPCohort2026Possible Clinical Predictors for Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients after Surgery.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Seven bedside checks for swallowing problems in head and neck cancer patients missed most cases. Sensitivity was too low to rely on them, so these signs should not be used alone to screen for dysphagia after surgery.
• SLPOther2026Quantifying Pharyngeal Residue during Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies (VFSS/MBS): Validation of Percentage-Based Visual-Perceptual Residue Ratings.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Percentage-based visual ratings of pharyngeal residue on VFSS still images matched pixel-based ground truth with moderate-to-substantial agreement and excellent reliability. Accuracy was higher for clinicians using frame-by-frame analysis and standardized tools, but lower with more years of experience.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025Case Report: Intensive multidisciplinary motor-cognitive rehabilitation treatment in Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne woman with Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome completed four weeks of intensive motor-cognitive rehabilitation. Her walking, balance, hand dexterity, speech clarity and swallowing safety all improved during admission, though she still needed her walker and caregiver support.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Clinical Predictors of Dysphagia in Acute and Subacute Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Retrospective Observational Study.DysphagiaPatients with a tracheostomy after cervical spinal cord injury were far more likely to have food or liquid enter their airway. Those aged 65 or older were more likely to have food left in the throat after swallowing. These factors help identify who needs a swallowing test before eating.
• SLPOther2026Preliminary Validation of Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGESTV2) for Characterizing Swallow Safety and Efficiency in Post-Stroke Populations.DysphagiaThe DIGEST V2 swallowing tool tracks pharyngeal residue and aspiration well in post-stroke patients. However, it fails to capture oral-phase deficits and shows poor reliability for grading efficiency. Use it to monitor pharyngeal safety, but do not rely on it to assess oral function.
• SLPOther2026Alpha-Synuclein Lesions in the Peripheral Nervous System of the Larynx in Parkinson's Disease.DysphagiaParkinson’s larynx tissue from 20 postmortem cases showed alpha-synuclein lesions in nerves, muscles, and mucosa. Speech severity matched these laryngeal changes; swallowing severity did not. These are tissue findings, not treatment evidence.
• SLPPilot2026Adaptation of the Italian Version of the Mealtime Assessment Scale in Pediatric Population (MAS-p).DysphagiaThe adapted Italian Mealtime Assessment Scale for children showed good reliability and consistency in a small pilot. It helps speech-language pathologists observe safety and efficacy during meals in real-life settings, though further validation is needed before clinical use.
• SLPOther2026Using Machine Learning for the Automated Segmentation and Detection of Swallows Obtained by Digital Cervical Auscultation in Preterm Neonates.DysphagiaA machine learning model identified 94% of swallows in preterm neonates from neck sounds. It was more accurate for bottle feeds than breast feeds. This could help automate cervical auscultation, but it has not yet been tested against actual aspiration.
• SLPProtocol2025The Influence of Physical Exercise on Head and Neck Structures and Functions Related to Swallowing: A Scoping Review Protocol.International journal of language & communication disordersThis paper is a plan for a future study, not a report of results. It outlines how researchers will search for evidence on whether physical exercise affects swallowing muscles, but no data has been collected or analyzed yet.
• SLPCohort2026Swallowing Guidance with FEES May Alleviate Symptoms in Functional Dysphagia.DysphagiaFEES, video explanation, and swallowing guidance lowered median EAT-10 scores in all patients and in functional dysphagia, but 40% reported relief, 50% no change, and quality of life did not improve.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Prioritisation Systems Used in Adult Speech and Language Therapy Settings: A Scoping Review.International journal of language & communication disordersIn adult speech and language therapy, prioritisation often puts swallowing first and communication or voice lower. 10 included studies showed inconsistent systems with little detail, so diagnosis labels can delay people whose needs are severe.
• SLPSystematic Review2026Pharyngolaryngeal Abnormalities viewed via nasoendoscopy associated with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Adults: A Scoping Review.DysphagiaScoping review of 117 articles links specific pharyngolaryngeal abnormalities seen on FEES to dysphagia. Unilateral vocal fold impairment and edema show consistent associations with aspiration. Most other abnormalities lack statistical evidence, so treat FEES findings as part of a broader assessment rather than definitive causes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025The Effect of Genotype on Self-Reported Dysarthria and Dysphagia in Parkinson's Disease: A Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative Study.International journal of language & communication disordersPatients with SNCA and GBA mutations self-reported worse speech and swallowing problems than those with LRRK2 mutations after the first two years. All groups started with similar mild symptoms. Motor phenotype did not predict these self-reported communication or swallowing difficulties.
• SLPPilot2026Super-Supraglottic Swallow Combined with Head Flexion Strengthens Laryngeal Closure.DysphagiaAdding head flexion to the super-supraglottic swallow significantly shortened the distance between the epiglottis and arytenoid in healthy adults, increasing complete laryngeal closure. However, participants found the combined maneuver harder to perform than the super-supraglottic swallow alone.
• SLPOther2026Palpation as a Method To Predict Spatial Instrumental Hyolaryngeal Excursion Measures.DysphagiaTrained SLPs could use finger palpation to predict reduced upward hyolaryngeal movement, but not forward movement. More swallows per bolus and thin liquid also tracked upward movement. This supports palpation for vertical elevation only.
• SLPCohort2026The Effect of Compensatory Strategies in Reducing to Postoperative Airway Invasion, and Pharyngeal Residue in Patients Undergoing Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer.DysphagiaThickening liquids reduced aspiration and penetration in post-esophagectomy patients without increasing pharyngeal residue. A chin-tuck posture (head flexion) did not significantly improve airway safety or residue clearance, though it reduced penetration events. Thickened liquids appear more effective than head flexion for this population.
• SLPRCT2026Characterizing Puree Bite Sizes in People with Normal and Disordered Swallowing: Predictors and Impact on Swallowing Safety and Efficiency during Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Self-selected puree bites were typically 10.3 mL overall and 11.1 mL in natural conditions. FEES bites with blue-colored pudding, transnasal endoscopy, and single-swallow instruction were 2.4 mL smaller. Swallow impairment did not predict bite size. Larger bites increased residue most in severe or profound impairment.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Comparison of Upper Body Joint and Hand Motions in Eating Solid Foods With Chopsticks and Semisolid Foods With a Spoon in Healthy Males and Females: Observational Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesEating solid food with chopsticks requires less shoulder and neck movement but more elbow and forearm rotation than eating semisolid food with a spoon. Hand movements are slower and cover less distance with chopsticks. These kinematic differences help clinicians select appropriate utensils.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Gastroenterological disorders and hepatic disease in adults with cerebral palsy: A systematic review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyPrevalence of swallowing, reflux, and liver disease is higher in adults with cerebral palsy, especially those with intellectual disability or limited mobility. However, no validated screening tools exist, and intervention evidence is sparse, so routine screening cannot be recommended yet.
• SLPOther2025Comparison of functional aspects and quality of life before and after using the heat and moisture exchange in total laryngectomy patients.CoDASAfter using a heat and moisture exchange filter for two to four weeks, laryngectomy patients reported better sleep, less cough-related distress, and improved emotional voice perception. Swallowing quality of life did not change.
• SLPOther2026Does Inclusion of Thickened Liquids in a Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS) Protocol Affect DIGEST Grades?DysphagiaAdding thickened liquids to a standard swallowing scan rarely changes the DIGEST score. In most cases, the impairment grade stays exactly the same. When it does change, the score worsens by one point, usually because safety issues appear on the thicker liquid that were missed on thin liquid.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2026Evidence and alternatives to the routine use of cuffed tracheostomy tubes in spontaneously breathing patients with neurological disorders.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesRoutine cuff inflation in spontaneously breathing neurological patients lacks evidence for benefit and risks tracheal damage. Early deflation, cuffless tubes, or fitting fenestrated tubes improves cough, swallowing, and voice. Assess readiness for deflation rather than keeping cuffs inflated by default.
• SLPCohort2026Tongue Strength and Endurance in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: Association with Swallowing, Oral Phase Efficiency, Meal, Diet Type and Malnutrition Risk.DysphagiaIn patients with Parkinson's disease, lower tongue strength and endurance were linked to slower chewing, less safe meals, restricted diets, and higher malnutrition risk. These tongue measures were not associated with aspiration on instrumental swallow tests.
• SLPCohort2025Validity, Reliability and Application of the Paediatric Posterior Drooling Scale.Child: care, health and developmentThe Paediatric Posterior Drooling Scale reliably identifies saliva pooling in the airway when scored by trained speech therapists. It correlates with eating ability but shows poor consistency over time, so it should be used as part of a broader assessment rather than a standalone diagnostic tool.
• PTSLPOther2026Variations in Head-Neck Posture and Hyoid Kinematics in Patients With Stroke and Aspiration Risk: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationStroke patients with high aspiration risk had forward head posture, restricted neck movement, and smaller hyoid displacements than those with low risk. Poor head-neck posture correlated with reduced hyoid movement, suggesting posture may contribute to swallowing dysfunction.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2026Rapid Bolus Inflow into the Esophagus in a Patient with a Tracheostomy after Surgical Treatment for Dysphagia.DysphagiaA patient with an open tracheostomy spontaneously developed a swallowing method that sucked food into the esophagus using negative pressure. This allowed him to resume a normal oral diet, though the treatment involved multiple surgeries and therapies at once.
• PTSLPCohort2026Dynamic suprahyoid muscle ultrasound in acute stroke: a prospective observational study for developing a dysphagia severity score.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineA new bedside ultrasound score identified severe dysphagia in acute stroke patients better than standard clinical screening. Patients scoring three or more points were at high risk, catching cases the standard test missed. This tool helps therapists flag patients needing intensive swallowing support early.
• SLPOther2025Airflow Features Obtained From Voluntary Throat Clearing Compared to Voluntary Cough and Induced Reflexive Cough in a Healthy Population.International journal of language & communication disordersVoluntary throat clearing produces significantly lower peak expiratory flow rates than voluntary or induced reflexive coughs in healthy adults. The aerodynamic profile differs markedly, with throat clearing showing lower multiple-peak flow rates rather than the high single-peak flow seen in coughing.
• SLPOther2025Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: comparison with older people with dysphagia and relationship with time since diagnosis.CoDASIn dysphagic patients, those with ALS had more thin-liquid leakage, residue, penetration and aspiration than older dysphagic adults without neurological disease. Diagnosis for more than 3 years was linked to response starting in the pyriform sinuses, moderate residues and need for an alternative feeding route.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Swallowing and QoL Outcomes, Patient Experience and Treatment Related Priorities in Recurrent Oropharyngeal Cancer (rOPC)- a Mixed Method Study.DysphagiaSwallowing function deteriorated over six months despite patient-reported scores appearing stable. Patients prioritised survival over function, but shifted focus to quality of life when cure became unlikely. Treatment decisions must account for this dynamic, ensuring patients understand the functional trade-offs before choosing curative paths.
• SLPQualitative2026Patient Perceptions on a Wearable Sensor Technology for Swallowing: A Qualitative Study with Patients with Parkinson's Disease.DysphagiaPatients with Parkinson's found a new swallowing sensor comfortable but disliked the sticky adhesive and worrying about looking different in public. They asked for skin-tone colors, easier application, and automatic data sharing with therapists.
• SLPOther2025Self-assessment of risk of dysphagia and clinical-functional vulnerability in older adults with a history of leprosy.CoDASAmong 117 older adults with a history of leprosy, 22 reported swallowing risk on a self-check tool. Being 80 to 99 or frail was linked to reporting risk. For those at risk, eating time was the most affected quality-of-life area.
• PTSLPCohort2026Age better discriminates early dysphagia than cough function, respiratory muscle strength, or trunk control after mild stroke.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationAfter mild stroke, age was the best marker of early swallowing problems. Patients with dysphagia averaged 70.0 years, those without 61.4 years. Cough flow, breathing muscle strength and trunk control did not separate them on their own.
• SLPOther2025Breath-Holding Maneuvers and Airway Closure in Healthy Adults and Parkinson's Disease: Effects of Maneuver Type, Health Status, and Vocal Fold Bowing.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Hard breath-holds achieved complete airway closure far more often than light ones in both healthy adults and people with Parkinson's. Light holds failed to close the airway in nearly half of participants, suggesting clinicians should verify closure visually rather than assume it.
• SLPSurvey2025South African speech-language therapists' views on dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsSouth African speech-language therapists described varied swallowing care for head and neck cancer. Most did not use instrumental assessments for all patients at first. Access and radiation exposure influenced that choice. They agreed treatment should change with surgery, but most had no workplace protocol.
• SLPSurvey2025Nursing personnel and speech-language therapists communication practices in dysphagia management.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsNurses reported that written instructions were their top preference for dysphagia care, followed by face-to-face verbal exchange. While most felt respected, a minority struggled to understand verbal instructions. Brief, unambiguous written notes paired with direct conversation appeared to support safe implementation.
• SLPCohort2025A description of feeding and swallowing in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsNeonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy often delay full oral feeding, especially if severely injured and untreated with cooling. Most achieved full feeds within 5 days. Oral phase difficulties like reduced endurance and weak sucking were common. Pharyngeal issues may be under-detected without instrumental assessment.
• SLPQualitative2025Feeding and swallowing difficulties in previously hospitalised premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit: Perspectives from South African caregivers.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMothers of premature infants with feeding difficulties described feeling helpless and guilty. They reported that NICU restrictions and their inability to feed their babies orally made bonding difficult. Information gaps about their child's swallowing prognosis left them searching for answers on social media.
• SLPQualitative2025Exploring final-year nursing students' experiences in dysphagia management at an Eastern Cape University.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsTwelve final-year nursing students said they felt unprepared to manage swallowing difficulties. They described brief lectures, uneven ward exposure, and uncertainty about feeding, choking, and when to refer to speech-language pathologists.
• SLPQualitative2025Perceived readiness of South African community service speech-language therapists to manage complex paediatric dysphagia.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsCommunity service speech therapists in South Africa reported low confidence managing complex paediatric dysphagia. They cited insufficient clinical exposure, lack of senior mentorship, and resource shortages like missing thickening agents. Caregiver beliefs, language barriers, and poverty further hindered effective therapy delivery.
• SLPQualitative2025Feeding and swallowing in cerebral palsy: Caregiver burden, quality of life and support needs.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMothers of children with cerebral palsy and feeding difficulties reported that feeding dominates their lives, causing financial, physical and emotional strain regardless of whether the child eats orally or via a tube. They urgently need practical coaching, accessible professional contact and peer support.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Quality of rehabilitation care in Portuguese stroke units: findings from 2017-2018 and 2023 national cross‑sectional surveys.Journal of rehabilitation medicinePortuguese stroke units improved multidisciplinary meetings and discharge coordination over six years. However, fully staffed teams remained rare, weekend assessments lagged significantly behind weekdays, and neurogenic bladder screening was almost never performed.
• SLPOther2025From delay to detection: Dysphagia patterns in tracheostomised ICU patients in South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsIn 42 tracheostomised ICU patients, 66.6% had dysphagia and 28.6% had silent aspiration. Swallowing assessments took an average of 32.45 days after admission, meaning patients spent weeks with undetected swallowing problems.
• SLPQualitative2025Developing a FEES service in South Africa: Interdisciplinary reflections for dysphagia care.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsFour dysphagia clinicians reflected that building a bedside FEES service depended on ENT, SLT and nursing collaboration, protected scheduling, shared endoscope access, and education to overcome scepticism. They described FEES helping guide diet and feeding decisions, but gave no patient outcomes.