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 8 OF 15 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPCohort2023Usefulness of Telemedicine for Disabled Children Receiving Feeding Therapy.DysphagiaFor disabled children receiving feeding therapy, telemedicine and in-person care led to similar improvements in feeding skills. The study found no significant difference between the two groups, suggesting telemedicine is a viable alternative for routine monitoring and guidance.
• SLPSurvey2023Videofluoroscopy Practice in India: A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists.DysphagiaIndian SLPs reported variable VFSS practice: 56% used a standard protocol, but 85% of those used an in-house one; 97% of barium users did not know contrast concentration; none screened for esophageal dysphagia.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Affective Symptoms and Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Head-and-Neck Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.DysphagiaOropharyngeal dysphagia and anxiety or depression frequently occur together in head-and-neck cancer survivors. However, the review could not determine if swallowing problems cause distress or vice versa, nor how strong the link is.
• SLPCohort2023Best Practice in Swallowing Assessment in COVID-19.DysphagiaNo SLP staff tested positive for workplace-acquired COVID after resuming FEES and MBS on 439 COVID-positive hospitalizations. This suggests instrumental swallowing assessment can be safe with strict PPE and triage algorithms.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Functional Laryngeal Assessment in Patients with Tracheostomy Following COVID-19 a Prospective Cohort Study.DysphagiaIn 48 patients with tracheostomy after severe COVID-19, impaired airway protection was linked to longer artificial airway use and ICU stays. At discharge, most tolerated regular food and fluids, but the study had no control group.
• SLPOther2023Dysphagia Management and Cervical Auscultation: Reliability and Validity Against FEES.DysphagiaTrained clinicians listening to swallow sounds correctly identified unsafe swallows with high accuracy, especially for thin liquids. However, they frequently flagged safe patients as dysphagic. Use this as an adjunct to clinical exams, not a standalone diagnosis.
• SLPOther2023A Within-Subject Comparison of Face-to-Face and Telemedicine Screening Using the Timed Water Swallow Test (TWST) and the Test of Mastication and Swallowing of Solids (TOMASS).DysphagiaTelemedicine screening for swallowing problems matched face-to-face results for most measures. However, counting swallows remotely was unreliable and led to false positives. Use a person in the room to assist with the camera and water, but do not rely on remote observation of swallow counts.
• SLPCohort2023Functional Lingual Pressure Thresholds for Swallowing Safety and Efficiency Impairments in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.DysphagiaIn 30 people with ALS, tongue pressure at or below 43 kPa flagged unsafe swallowing, and at or below 46 kPa flagged inefficient swallowing. These thresholds help screen for risk, but the test is not precise enough to replace imaging.
• SLPOther2023Dosages of Swallowing Exercises Prescribed in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Medical Record Audit.DysphagiaA medical record audit of 42 patients with post-stroke dysphagia found that swallowing exercise dosages were inconsistent and lower than in research studies. In the statistical analysis, patient age predicted improvement in oral intake, but the number of exercise repetitions did not.
• SLPOther2023Position Statement of the Union of European Phoniatricians (UEP): Fees and Phoniatricians' Role in Multidisciplinary and Multiprofessional Dysphagia Management Team.DysphagiaEuropean phoniatricians recommend that FEES be performed primarily by medical doctors to rule out structural disease, though speech-language pathologists may conduct follow-up exams for therapy guidance depending on local laws.
• SLPOther2023How Valid and Reliable Is the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) When Translated into Another Language?DysphagiaThe Swedish translation of the IDDSI framework was rated by experts as linguistically accurate and culturally applicable after revision. Twenty speech-language pathologists showed very high agreement when recommending diet levels for ten fictitious patient cases using the translated terms.
• SLPOther2023The Test of Mastication and Swallowing Solids and the Timed Water Swallow Test: Reliability, associations, age and gender effects, and normative data.International journal of language & communication disordersHealthy adults who took longer to drink 150 ml of water also took longer to eat a cracker, and those who used more swallows on one test used more on the other. These tests provide age and gender norms, not proof of a swallowing disorder.
• SLPNarrative Review2023Expanding Rehabilitation Options for Dysphagia: Skill-Based Swallowing Training.DysphagiaThis review argues that swallowing is a cortical skill, not just a muscle reflex. It suggests that training timing and coordination via biofeedback may help patients with motor planning deficits, rather than just weakness. No new patient data was generated.
• SLPCohort2023Risk Factors for Dysphagia in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19.DysphagiaAmong hospitalized adults with COVID-19 already referred for swallowing review, pneumonia, ARDS, prone positioning, ventilation, and intubation were linked to needing diet changes. Older age was linked to more severe swallowing problems.
• SLPOther2023Development of a Remote Examination of Deglutition Based on Consensus Surveys of Clinicians (Part II): Reliability and Validity in Healthy Elderly Individuals and Oral Cancer Patients.DysphagiaThe Remote Examination of Deglutition (RED) is a reliable 13-item screening tool for oral cancer patients. It matches face-to-face results when used remotely and takes 15 minutes. A score of 8 or less suggests swallowing disorders, while 3 or less indicates aspiration risk.
• SLPSystematic Review2023Behavioral Interventions Targeting Base of Tongue to Posterior Pharyngeal Wall Approximation: A Scoping Review.DysphagiaEffortful swallowing and similar maneuvers can increase tongue base pressure in the moment. However, there is almost no evidence that these exercises improve long-term swallowing function in patients. Most studies used healthy volunteers, so results do not guarantee clinical benefit.
• SLPOther2023Validation of the Czech Version of the Dysphagia in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire (DYMUS).DysphagiaThe Czech DYMUS questionnaire reliably screens for swallowing difficulties in multiple sclerosis patients. Dropping the weight-loss item improved the scale, and electronic administration worked as well as paper. A score of 2 or more suggests dysphagia, though the sample had mostly mild disability.
• SLPCohort2023Relating Physiologic Swallowing Impairment, Functional Swallowing Ability, and Swallow-Specific Quality of Life.DysphagiaQuestionnaire scores and diet status showed only weak links to measured swallowing physiology. In this outpatient cohort, patient-reported swallowing difficulty did not reliably stand in for a videofluoroscopic swallow assessment.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2023Evaluating the Therapeutic Application of Neuromodulation in the Human Swallowing System.DysphagiaNeuromodulation techniques like rTMS, tDCS, and PES show mixed results for neurogenic dysphagia. While PES has regulatory approval in Europe and aids extubation in tracheostomized patients, most other applications remain experimental, lack standardized protocols, and are not approved for dysphagia by the FDA.
• SLPNarrative Review2022The impact of COVID-19 on speech-language and hearing professions in low- and middle-income countries: Challenges and opportunities explored.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsSpeech-language and hearing work in low- and middle-income countries was disrupted by masks, poor connectivity, telepractice gaps, workload and policy barriers. The special issue described challenges and proposed hybrid services, not evidence that these methods improve patient outcomes.
• SLPOther2023Potential of Rice-Flour Jelly Made from High-Amylose Rice as a Dysphagia Diet: Evaluation of Pharyngeal Residue by FEES.DysphagiaRice-flour jelly left less residue in the throat than rice-porridge during swallowing tests. It matched mashed rice-porridge in residue levels. This suggests rice-flour jelly is a safe, easier-to-prepare alternative for patients needing soft rice-based foods.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023A Prospective, Longitudinal and Exploratory Study of Head and Neck Lymphoedema and Dysphagia Following Chemoradiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer.DysphagiaHead and neck lymphoedema persists in all patients one year after chemoradiotherapy, though it shifts from external to internal. Higher severity and more widespread internal swelling are strongly linked to worse swallowing safety, diet restrictions, and patient-reported difficulty eating solids.
• SLPNarrative Review2023Cross-System Integration of Respiration and Deglutition: Function, Treatment, and Future Directions.DysphagiaTraining head and neck cancer survivors to swallow during expiration improved airway protection and swallowing mechanics. This preliminary evidence suggests better timing reduces residue and penetration, though larger randomized trials are still needed to confirm efficacy.
• SLPCase Series2022Exploring swallowing, feeding and communication characteristics of toddlers with severe acute malnutrition.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsToddlers recovering from severe acute malnutrition, with HIV and TB, had oral feeding difficulties, disruptive eating and mild-to-moderate language delays, yet none had been referred for speech therapy.
• SLPCohort2022What could go wrong? Non-standardized versus standardized food texture classification.International journal of language & communication disordersIn long-term care, foods labeled pureed by non-standardized systems were often actually regular texture. Waiting 30 minutes after cooking made food harder. Residents ate less of the regular texture foods than the liquidized ones.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2023Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Literature Review.DysphagiaDysphagia is common after cervical spinal cord injury, often silent and linked to tracheostomy, surgery, or respiratory impairment. Screening must account for reduced sensation. Specialist speech-language pathology input is recommended for assessment and tailored rehabilitation.
• SLPNarrative Review2023Bioenergetic Evaluation of Muscle Fatigue in Murine Tongue.DysphagiaThis paper reviews methods for studying tongue muscle fatigue in rodents and describes a small pilot in 10 old rats. It contains no clinical data on people with dysphagia, so there is nothing here to change your practice on.
• SLPOther2023Translation and Validation of the Dysphagia Handicap Index in Polish-Speaking Patients.DysphagiaA Polish translation of the Dysphagia Handicap Index accurately measures swallowing-related quality of life in adults. Scores were significantly higher in patients with dysphagia than in healthy controls, and the questionnaire yielded consistent results when completed twice within two weeks.
• SLPSurvey2023Telehealth Management of Dysphagia in Adults: A Survey of Speech Language Pathologists' Experiences and Perceptions.DysphagiaHalf of surveyed speech therapists used telehealth for adult dysphagia during the pandemic, mostly for therapy rather than assessments. Confidence and perceived effectiveness doubled over time. Outpatient clinicians reported higher confidence than inpatient ones. Key barriers were lack of infrastructure, reimbursement issues, and limited training.
• SLPQualitative2023The true cost of dysphagia on quality of life: The views of adults with swallowing disability.International journal of language & communication disordersNine adults with long-term swallowing difficulties described dysphagia as a constant cost to their social life, food enjoyment, and sense of control. Texture-modified meals often felt unappealing and isolating. They relied on self-advocacy and creative mealtime adaptations to maintain some quality of life.
• SLPSurvey2022South African speech-language therapists' practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementia.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMost South African speech therapists surveyed would recommend tube feeding to a family member with advanced dementia, despite evidence it does not improve quality of life. They cited family pressure and a lack of local guidelines as the main drivers of this decision.
• SLPCohort2023Evaluation of a Machine Learning-Based Dysphagia Prediction Tool in Clinical Routine: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.DysphagiaThe dysphagia prediction tool worked better in internal medicine than geriatric wards. It identified 74.2% of internal medicine dysphagia cases and 44.4% of geriatric cases.
• SLPCohort2023Alterations in deglutition in children with congenital Zika virus syndrome.CoDASChildren with congenital Zika syndrome had frequent oral and pharyngeal swallowing difficulties, but acoustic Doppler tests showed no difference from typical children. Clinical signs like gagging and panting were common, while instrument measures were not.
• SLPOther2023Testing and Development of Slightly Thick Infant Formula Recipes for Dysphagia Management: An Australian Perspective.DysphagiaThickened infant formula is highly variable. Aptamil thickener recipes reached the correct consistency after 10 to 15 minutes, while Supercol recipes varied widely and blocked syringes. Wait at least 10 minutes after mixing and always flow test before feeding.
• SLPPilot2023Weighing up the pros and cons of dysphagia triage in South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsA two-minute doctor triage checklist flagged 27 of 67 emergency patients as dysphagia risk, but it did not agree reliably with screening and flagged many patients without dysphagia.
• SLPSystematic Review2023Dysphagia and pill swallowing in HIV/AIDS in South Africa: Results of a scoping review.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsAcross three included articles, South African adults with HIV/AIDS described difficulty swallowing antiretroviral pills due to side effects, mouth and throat pain, dry mouth, other illnesses, stress and stigma, which reduced adherence. Speech-language pathology involvement was rare and late.
• SLPCohort2023Effects of lingual frenotomy on breastfeeding and electrical activity of the masseter and suprahyoid muscles.CoDASSeven days after surgical release of the tongue tie, infants showed fewer signs of difficulty with latch and positioning. Electrical activity in the jaw muscle dropped, but muscle activity in the floor of the mouth did not change.
• SLPOther2023Assessment of mouth breathing by Speech-Language Pathologists: an international Delphi consensus.CoDASExperts agreed preschoolers should be classified as nasal, oral, or mixed breathers. Observation at rest for three minutes in three different situations is the priority. Mouth posture and tongue position matter most. The grid is a prototype requiring validation before clinical use.
• SLPOther2023Swallow Reaction Time in Healthy Adults.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsSwallow reaction time varies widely in healthy adults. Age, sex, and volume did not significantly affect it, but thicker liquids consistently slowed the swallow. This data helps clinicians distinguish normal variation from true delay when assessing dysphagia.
• SLPCase Report2023Utilization of electromyographic biofeedback in speech therapy to attenuate the signs of facial aging: a case report.CoDASIn one woman, EMG biofeedback plus exercises reduced some facial aging signs. Wrinkles decreased, but others stayed the same. This is a single case report, so it does not prove the treatment works for anyone else.
• SLPSystematic Review2023Quantitative approach to analyze hyoid bone movement during swallowing by ultrasound: an integrative review.CoDASUltrasound is increasingly used to measure hyoid bone movement, but there is no standard way to do it. Different studies used different equipment, transducer positions, and software, making results impossible to compare. Amplitude is the most common measure, but extraction methods vary widely.
• PTSLPOther2023Effects of simulated kyphosis posture on swallowing and respiratory functions.Journal of physical therapy scienceSimulating severe kyphosis lowered measured swallowing muscle activity, tongue pressure, vital capacity, and cough peak flow in healthy young adults compared with upright posture. This was a posture simulation, not evidence about older patients with real kyphosis.
• SLPCohort2023Quality of life in dysphagia and anxiety and depression symptoms pre and post-thyroidectomy.CoDASPatients undergoing thyroidectomy reported improved swallowing-related quality of life and reduced anxiety and depression scores three months after surgery. However, no correlation was found between dysphagia severity and emotional symptoms, suggesting these issues may need separate clinical monitoring.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Safety of botulinum toxin injections in children less than one year old: A retrospective chart review.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn 47 infants treated with botulinum toxin, only two reported adverse events. One had transient fever and vomiting, and one had mild weakness. No significant systemic issues occurred at doses below 16 U/kg, suggesting the treatment may be safer than feared in this age group.
• SLPCase Series2023Exploring the Efficacy of the Effortful Swallow Maneuver for Improving Swallowing in People With Parkinson Disease-A Pilot Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationResponses to four weeks of effortful swallow practice, tongue-pressure feedback, and liquid-thickening instruction were mixed in five people with Parkinson disease who completed the program. Some safety scores improved, but no consistent pattern emerged.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation for dysphagia patients during recovery stage of stroke: a randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineFor stroke patients with swallowing difficulties, adding four weeks of intermittent theta-burst stimulation to standard therapy improved swallowing function more than sham stimulation. This benefit held for both supratentorial and brainstem strokes, while continuous theta-burst stimulation showed inconsistent effects depending on stroke location.
• SLPOther2024Clinical feeding assessment: An effective screening test to predict aspiration in children in low resource settings.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA clinical feeding assessment is a sensitive screening tool for aspiration in children. A negative result reliably rules out aspiration, allowing clinicians to avoid invasive instrumental testing. However, a positive result has low specificity, meaning many children are falsely flagged and require further evaluation.
• SLPMeta-Analysis2023Transcranial direct current stimulation for post-stroke dysphagia: a meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding tDCS to conventional swallowing therapy improved swallowing and reduced aspiration/penetration in randomized trials. The trials tested tDCS plus therapy, not tDCS alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Recovery of activities of daily living in COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care unit or medical care unit: an observational study on the role of rehabilitation in the subacute phase.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPost-ICU patients arrived with worse function but recovered to the same level as medical ward patients. Independence improved from a Barthel score of 10 to 70. This proves early rehab helps severe cases catch up, but without a control group, we cannot separate the treatment's effect from natural recovery.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Establishing a Clinical Care Pathway to Expedite Rehabilitation Transitions for Stroke Patients With Dysphagia and Enteral Feeding Needs.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationA clinical pathway using PM&R consultation to identify stroke patients likely to recover swallowing allowed transfer to rehab with a nasogastric tube. This group achieved oral diet significantly faster than those receiving early PEG placement.