TOPIC

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 7 OF 15 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPOther2022Association between clinical evaluation and self perception of deglutition with motor disability scale in patients with multiple sclerosis.CoDASHigher motor disability scores were linked to more swallowing complaints and worse swallowing on clinical assessment in adults with multiple sclerosis. This supports screening, not proof that disability causes swallowing problems.
• SLPOther2022Swallowing assessment in patients with dysphagia: Validity and reliability of a pocket-sized ultrasound system.International journal of language & communication disordersPocket-sized ultrasound did not agree well with videofluoroscopy for hyoid movement and thyrohyoid approximation in dysphagia patients. Bedside iPad scanning was inconsistent between clinicians, and offline measurement from saved images was good except tongue thickness, so it should not yet guide bedside decisions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Comparative Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin in Salivary Glands vs. Oromotor Therapy in the Management of Sialorrhea in Cerebral Palsy Impact on Sleep Quality.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdding botulinum toxin to oromotor therapy improved sleep and swallowing more than therapy alone in children with cerebral palsy. The toxin group saw greater reductions in sleep breathing disorders and difficulty falling asleep.
• SLPOther2022Automated assessment of hyoid movement during normal swallow using ultrasound.International journal of language & communication disordersA deep learning tracker estimated hyoid movement from ultrasound with good agreement to manual measures, outperforming a simpler shadow-based method. It offers a potential route to faster, automated swallowing assessment, though it currently requires specific high-end hardware.
• SLPCase Report2022Oropharyngeal dysphagia telerehabilitation in the Intensive Care Unit for COVID-19: a case report.CoDASA 50-year-old man with severe COVID-19 improved his swallowing frequency from one to three swallows in 30 seconds using telerehabilitation. The remote assessment matched face-to-face findings, allowing therapy to start while infection risks remained high.
• SLPQualitative2022Managing ongoing swallow safety through information-sharing: An ethnography of speech and language therapists and nurses at work on stroke units.International journal of language & communication disordersSLTs and nurses on stroke wards share a strong concern for swallow safety but face practical dilemmas. Recommendations made during weekday assessments often clash with weekend realities when SLTs are absent. Nurses must balance strict adherence with patient demands and competing ward duties, leading to tension and uncertainty about when to report deviations.
• SLPSurvey2021A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists' Experience With Clinical Cough Assessment.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsMost clinicians assess cough but received little formal training. They rely on subjective judgment, with few using objective tools like peak flow meters. High interest in training exists, but current practice may lack reliability without standardized education on interpreting cough strength and presence.
• SLPOther2021The "Counseling+" Roles of the Speech-Language Pathologist Serving Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia From Alzheimer's Disease.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsSpeech-language pathologists are offered counseling roles for older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. These are expert recommendations, not tested intervention results.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Eating and drinking ability and nutritional status in adults with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyNearly a third of adults with cerebral palsy have eating and drinking difficulties. Those needing help at meals weighed significantly less, even after adjusting for motor function. Low body weight is linked to mealtime dependence, not just physical disability.
• SLPCohort2022Factors associated with frailty in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.CoDASPatients with neurodegenerative diseases and swallowing difficulties were significantly more likely to be frail. However, those with cognitive alterations on the MMSE were less likely to be frail, a counterintuitive finding that requires cautious interpretation.
• SLPNarrative Review2022Triage and dysphagia: Are hospitals in the South African public health sector ready?The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsThis paper argues that triaging for swallowing difficulties in emergency departments could help identify at-risk patients early. However, it concludes that South African public hospitals currently lack the staff, resources, and standardized protocols to implement this effectively.
• SLPQualitative2022The perspectives of speech-language pathologists: Providing teletherapy to patients with speech, language and swallowing difficulties during a COVID-19 context.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsSLPs found teletherapy feasible for speech and language therapy, citing reduced travel and better family involvement. However, dysphagia treatment was largely abandoned due to inability to assess swallowing safely. Public sector therapists faced severe barriers from poor data access and reliance on phone-only sessions.
• SLPCase Report2023A Novel Approach to Severe Chronic Neurogenic Dysphagia Using Pharyngeal Sensory Electrical Stimulation.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationA single patient with severe post-surgical dysphagia who could not eat orally after 7 months of standard therapy began oral intake after 39 sessions of pharyngeal sensory electrical stimulation. This is one case, not proof the treatment works for others.
• SLPSystematic Review2023The role of oral and pharyngeal motor exercises in post-stroke recovery: A scoping review.Clinical rehabilitationMany swallowing, facial and sleep-breathing measures showed large group differences, but only 14.3% of speech measures did. The review cannot show that exercises caused these differences.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022Dysphagia, dysphonia and olfactory disease: a map of Cochrane evidence relevant to rehabilitation for people with post COVID-19 condition.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineNo Cochrane reviews exist for treating voice or smell loss in post-COVID. For swallowing, one review of stroke patients suggests behavioral strategies and TMS may help, but evidence quality is low and does not directly prove these treatments work for post-COVID patients.
• SLPPilot2023Socialize, Eat More, and Feel Better: Communal Eating in Acute Neurological Care.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationCommunal lunches were safe and feasible in acute stroke care. Patients attending two or more sessions reported trends toward less loneliness and better quality of life, but no significant changes in communication or food intake were proven.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Factors associated with the early emergence of atypical feeding behaviours in infants and young children: A scoping review.Child: care, health and developmentAssociations with feeding difficulties are inconsistent. Breastfeeding duration shows no clear protective effect. Introducing solids at or after 6 months and offering lumpy textures before 10 months may reduce pickiness. Parental anxiety and sensory sensitivity are linked to fussiness, but evidence quality varies.
• SLPCohort2023Progressive Decline in Voice and Voice-Related Quality of Life in X-Linked Dystonia Parkinsonism.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationVoice-related quality of life declined significantly over two years in men with X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism, while swallowing measures did not reach statistical significance. Vocal strain worsened markedly. This suggests voice changes may signal disease progression earlier than swallowing dysfunction in this population.
• SLPNarrative Review2023The Role of the Cerebellum in Swallowing.DysphagiaThe cerebellum helps coordinate swallowing muscles, but isolated damage rarely causes dysphagia. Stimulation studies show promise for treating swallowing difficulties, though evidence is limited to small groups and single cases, so clinical application remains experimental.
• SLPOther2023Examining Relationships Between GRBAS Ratings and Acoustic, Aerodynamic and Patient-Reported Voice Measures in Adults With Voice Disorders.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationClinician ratings of voice quality correlated significantly with acoustic and patient-reported measures, but the relationships were weak. No single objective test or questionnaire captured the same information as a GRBAS rating. Multiple measures remain necessary for a complete voice evaluation.
• SLPSurvey2023Prevalence of Dysphonia in Non hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in Lombardy, the Italian Epicenter of the Pandemic.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationNearly half of non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients reported voice problems. For many, this lasted over two weeks. Voice fatigue was common and often occurred without obvious hoarseness. Dysphagia affected one in six patients. These symptoms were self-reported and not objectively tested.
• SLPPilot2022Characterizing Effortful Swallows from Healthy Community Dwelling Adults Across the Lifespan Using High-Resolution Cervical Auscultation Signals and MBSImP Scores: A Preliminary Study.DysphagiaHigh-resolution cervical auscultation signals distinguished effortful from normal swallows with 76% accuracy in healthy adults, but videofluoroscopy ratings showed no difference. This suggests the sensor detects the maneuver even when standard clinical scores do not change.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022A Novel Balloon Catheter-based Dilation Intervention for Patients with Cricopharyngeus Achalasia After Stroke: A Randomized Study.DysphagiaA novel balloon catheter shortened dilation duration to 9 days versus 14 days for standard catheters. It improved swallowing function scores and reduced pain without increasing complications. Both groups also received routine swallowing training and electrical stimulation.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Italian Version of the Dysphagia Handicap Index (I-DHI).DysphagiaThe Italian Dysphagia Handicap Index is a reliable 25-item questionnaire that takes under ten minutes to complete. It accurately tracks how swallowing problems affect quality of life in adults with neurological and cancer diagnoses.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2022Speech and Swallowing Outcomes Following Surgical Resection with Immediate Free Tissue Transfer Reconstruction for Advanced Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible Following Radiation Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer.DysphagiaIn ten patients with severe jaw bone death, surgery and reconstruction left swallowing and speech outcomes split. Half kept or improved their diet, while half declined. Most speech stayed stable, but two patients became less understandable. Expect mixed functional results.
• SLPCohort2022The Natural Swallow: Factors Affecting Subject Choice of Bolus Volume and Pharyngeal Swallow Parameters in a Self-selected Swallow.DysphagiaHealthy adults choose a consistent, comfortable sip volume averaging 16.66 mL. Swallowing this self-selected volume requires lower peak pressures in the tongue base and upper esophagus than swallowing a fixed 10 mL bolus, suggesting it is a more efficient mechanical action.
• SLPSurvey2022The Status of Dysphagia Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic.DysphagiaDysphagia clinics shifted to split shifts and increased telehealth use during the pandemic. Evaluations dropped significantly. Fourteen clinics used temperature checks, but four used no screening. Clinicians reported moderate trust in remote assessments, citing internet issues as the main barrier.
• SLPCase Report2022Pediatric Medullary Stroke, Severe Dysphagia, and Multimodal Intervention.DysphagiaIn a child with severe swallowing failure after medullary stroke, Botox, cricopharyngeal myotomy, and intensive speech therapy were followed by movement of thin liquids and solids with left head tilt and no aspiration.
• SLPNarrative Review2022An International Commentary on Dysphagia and Dysphonia During the COVID-19 Pandemic.DysphagiaDysphagia and dysphonia are common after COVID-19, especially in ICU survivors. While many regain normal swallowing by discharge, non-ICU patients often retain dietary modifications. New airway complications like subglottic stenosis can emerge weeks after hospital discharge.
• SLPCohort2022Identifying Dysphagia and Demographic Associations in Older Adults Using Electronic Health Records: A National Longitudinal Observational Study in Wales (United Kingdom) 2008-2018.DysphagiaHealth records of older adults in Wales recorded swallowing difficulty more often in people who were older, frail, or living in more deprived areas.
• SLPPilot2022Expiratory Muscle Strength Training for Drooling in Adults with Parkinson's Disease.DysphagiaSixteen adults with Parkinson's disease completed a single-group pilot of expiratory muscle strength training. Self-reported drooling, swallow function, and cough flow all improved significantly after training. No control group was used, so these changes cannot be separated from natural fluctuation or other factors.
• SLPQualitative2022Translating Ultrasound into Clinical Practice for the Assessment of Swallowing and Laryngeal Function: A Speech and Language Pathology-Led Consensus Study.DysphagiaExperts ranked reliability and normative data as the top priorities before ultrasound can be used clinically for swallowing. Current evidence is insufficient for diagnosis. Clinicians should treat ultrasound as a research or biofeedback tool only until these standards are established.
• SLPSystematic Review2022Use of Pharyngeal High-Resolution Manometry to Evaluate Dysphagia in Adults with Motor Neurone Disease: A Scoping Review.DysphagiaPharyngeal manometry appears feasible in motor neurone disease, with no adverse events reported in five studies. However, inconsistent protocols and tiny samples prevent firm conclusions on its clinical value or specific physiological findings.
• SLPOther2022Food-Grade Activated Charcoal for Contrast-Enhanced Photoacoustic Imaging of Aspiration: A Phantom Study.DysphagiaIn a neck phantom, photoacoustic imaging detected charcoal solution in a simulated trachea, including thickened liquids and a single drop, while ultrasound signal faded. This is not yet evidence it can detect aspiration in patients.
• SLPCohort2022Clinical Outcomes and Patient Safety of Nasogastric Tube in Acute Stroke Patients.DysphagiaNasogastric tubes in 250 acute stroke patients had common complications, including failed insertion, wrong placement, self-removal, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Older age, higher stroke severity, and pneumonia were linked to death; multiple tube insertions were linked to lower death in a subgroup analysis.
• SLPOther2022Impact of Limb Phenotype on Tongue Denervation Atrophy, Dysphagia Penetrance, and Survival Time in a Mouse Model of ALS.DysphagiaIn ALS mice, tongue muscle atrophy did not differ between hindlimb-only and forelimb-involving groups. Forelimb involvement was associated with more consistent swallowing deficits, but this is animal data.
• SLPOther2022Variability in Swallowing Biomechanics in Infants with Feeding Difficulties: A Videofluoroscopic Analysis.DysphagiaSwallow timing and displacement vary naturally in infants with feeding difficulties and do not predict aspiration risk. However, a suck-to-swallow ratio greater than 3:1 and high variability in that ratio are significantly associated with increased aspiration risk.
• SLPSystematic Review2022Implementation of Pediatric Flexible-Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing: A Systematic Review and Recommendations for Future Research.DysphagiaPediatric FEES protocols lack standardization, with no validated scales used in 21 of 22 studies. While the procedure appears safe, inconsistent documentation prevents comparing results across studies, so clinicians cannot assume one hospital's protocol matches another's.
• SLPOther2022A New Therapeutic Approach for Dystussia and Atussia in Neurogenic Dysphagia: Effect of Aerosolized Capsaicin on Peak Cough Flow.DysphagiaAerosolized capsaicin triggered effective cough in 24 of 28 patients with neurogenic dysphagia who had weak voluntary coughs. This suggests the ability to cough exists but is inaccessible due to sensory deficits, offering a potential therapeutic target for airway clearance.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Patient Reported Outcome Measures in Dysphagia Research Following Stroke: A Scoping Review and Qualitative Analysis.DysphagiaMost stroke dysphagia trials ignore patient experience. The two common tools miss environmental barriers like support and attitudes. Use them with caution, knowing they do not capture the social impact of swallowing problems.
• SLPCase Series2023Safety and Clinical Benefits of Laryngeal Closure in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.DysphagiaIn 26 people with ALS, laryngeal closure had no severe surgical complications. 25 kept swallowing function, and no severe aspiration pneumonia referrals were reported. This small retrospective series suggests possible benefit, not proof.
• SLPNarrative Review2023The Pathway from Anatomy and Physiology to Diagnosis: A Developmental Perspective on Swallowing and Dysphagia.DysphagiaA developmental perspective on swallowing clarifies terms and research gaps in infant dysphagia. It reports no original methods, participants, results, or outcomes, so there is no finding to change practice.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Patient-Reported Outcomes After Swallowing (SWOARs)-Sparing IMRT in Head and Neck Cancers: Primary Results from a Prospective Study Endorsed by the Head and Neck Study Group (HNSG) of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO).DysphagiaPatients with head and neck cancer who had poor swallowing before treatment reported better quality of life after chemoradiotherapy. Those with good swallowing before treatment reported worse swallowing afterwards. Overall scores stayed similar because these two groups moved in opposite directions.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Clinical Predictors of Dysphagia Recovery After Stroke: A Systematic Review.DysphagiaPenetration or aspiration on instrumental assessment, older age, bilateral lesions, high NIHSS stroke severity, and initial low Functional Oral Intake Scale scores consistently predict persistent dysphagia after stroke. Intubation and tracheostomy also predict poor recovery. The evidence is limited by heterogeneous definitions of recovery and mostly retrospective designs.
• SLPNarrative Review2022Telepractice and Dysphagia Management: The Era of COVID-19 and Beyond.DysphagiaTelepractice can safely deliver adult swallowing exams, remote fluoroscopy reviews, and pediatric feeding therapy. It cuts travel burden and costs, with high patient and clinician satisfaction. Use it as a planned, integrated part of care rather than a temporary pandemic fix.
• SLPNarrative Review2023Stakeholder Perspectives on Radiation Use and Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Adult Modified Barium Swallow Studies.DysphagiaNo original study methods or results are reported; this editorial presents stakeholder perspectives, so there is no finding to act on.
• PTSLPCohort2023Examining Health Conditions, Impairments, and Quality of Life for Pediatric Feeding Disorders.DysphagiaChildren with feeding disorders had worse quality of life than those with kidney transplants or acute liver failure. Most had neurologic or genetic conditions, or no known diagnosis, with sensory issues and limited volume being the most common impairments.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Effect of Postoperative Oral Intake Status on Sarcopenia Six Months After Esophageal Cancer Surgery.DysphagiaEsophageal cancer patients who needed tube feeding at discharge were more likely to develop sarcopenia six months after surgery. Low preoperative BMI and weak handgrip strength also predicted muscle loss. Clinicians should prioritize nutritional support and strength monitoring for these high-risk groups.
• SLPRCT2023Improving Swallowing Function and Ability in Post Stroke Dysphagia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.DysphagiaAdding anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the supramarginal gyrus to standard behavioral therapy significantly improved swallowing function and ability in post-stroke dysphagia compared to sham stimulation. The real group showed greater gains in functional oral intake and swallowing ability scores at one-month follow-up.
• SLPNarrative Review2023COVID-19 and Dysphagia in Children: A Review.DysphagiaThis paper is a review of existing reports, not a study of patients. It describes how dysphagia may occur in children with MIS-C or after intubation, but it contains no original data to verify these risks or test any interventions.