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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 9 OF 15 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2023Persistent Dysphonia in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationAt least three months after discharge, 25% of ICU patients and 10.3% of ward patients had persistent voice problems. In ICU survivors, voice trouble strongly tracked with swallowing difficulty. Most ICU cases showed vocal cord weakness or paralysis, while ward cases mostly showed cord thinning.
• SLPCase-Control2024Relative Fundamental Frequency in Individuals with Globus Syndrome and Muscle Tension Dysphagia.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationSpeech-language pathologists should not expect voice acoustic tests to reveal laryngeal muscle tension in patients with globus syndrome or muscle tension dysphagia. These patients showed no difference in relative fundamental frequency compared to typical speakers, suggesting any tension present does not affect voice production.
• SLPCase Series2024Vocal Fold Paralysis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: Query of VAERS Database.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationNineteen patients developed vocal fold paralysis after COVID-19 vaccination, with symptoms starting on average 12 days later. This is a database query showing correlation, not causation. Voice complaints post-vaccination warrant laryngoscopy, but the event is exceedingly rare.
• SLPSystematic Review2023Persistent Features of Laryngeal Injury Following Endotracheal Intubation: A Systematic Review.DysphagiaAfter ICU intubation, many patients still have voice and swallowing problems weeks later. This review found persistent issues in 23–33% of survivors, but the evidence is weak because studies used different tests and relied heavily on patient reports rather than scans.
• SLPCohort2023Dysphagia After Esophageal Replacement and Its Treatment.DysphagiaDysphagia is common after esophageal replacement, driven by anastomotic stenosis and reflux. Cervical gastric anastomoses had 17.8% insufficiency and 5.6% stenosis, while thoracic and colonic replacements had lower rates. Treatment is primarily endoscopic.
• SLPOther2023Quantitative Analysis of Temporal Parameters Correlated with Aspiration and Lesion Location in Stroke Patients.DysphagiaIn stroke patients, longer laryngeal closure duration was linked to aspiration, but this association was borderline in the final model. Lesion location changed swallowing timing: supratentorial strokes had longer oral phases, while infratentorial strokes had longer upper sphincter opening.
• SLPOther2023Pink1-/- Rats Demonstrate Swallowing and Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in a Model of Prodromal Parkinson Disease.DysphagiaRats modeling early Parkinson's disease chewed slower and had poor bolus control before motor signs appeared. They also showed delayed gut transit and constipation-like changes. This confirms swallowing and gut issues are early disease markers, not just late complications.
• SLPCohort2023Defining Normal Sequential Swallowing Biomechanics.DysphagiaDuring repeated sips, healthy adults did not all use the same hyolaryngeal pattern. Older adults more often kept the airway closed between swallows, and second swallows were slower. Sequential swallowing is a variable challenge task, not a uniform pattern.
• SLPCohort2023Race and Gender Influences the Presentation of Eosinophilic Esophagitis.DysphagiaAfrican American patients with eosinophilic esophagitis were diagnosed younger and had fewer esophageal furrows than White patients. Males were diagnosed earlier than females and showed more abnormal endoscopic findings. These differences persisted after adjusting for confounders.
• SLPCohort2024Dynamic suprahyoid muscle ultrasound in assessing oropharyngeal dysphagia in neurological disorders.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineDynamic ultrasound of the suprahyoid muscles distinguished patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia from healthy controls. Combining muscle displacement and total duration achieved 93.3% sensitivity and a 95.6% negative predictive value, suggesting potential as a bedside screening tool.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Surface Electromyography for Evaluating the Effect of Aging on the Coordination of Swallowing Muscles.DysphagiaIn healthy older adults, swallowing muscles coordinate less tightly as age increases, but only when swallowing a large 30 ml gulp. Small sips showed no age-related change. This suggests stress testing with larger volumes is needed to detect early aging effects on swallowing coordination.
• SLPCohort2023Impact of Quantitative Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Measures on Clinical Interpretation and Recommendations by Speech-Language Pathologists.DysphagiaMeasured timings and distances on swallowing videos helped speech-language pathologists identify more impairments and recommend more exercises than usual subjective viewing. Agreement between different ways of reading the videos remained low.
• PTOTSLPRCT2023Efficacy of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined with Conventional Swallowing Rehabilitation Training on Post-stroke Dysphagia.DysphagiaAdding 1 mA tDCS to standard swallowing therapy improved swallowing scores more than standard therapy alone at 3 months. However, both groups received extensive concurrent treatments, so the specific benefit of tDCS cannot be isolated from the rest of the care.
• SLPPilot2023Effects of Device-Facilitated Lingual Strengthening Therapy on Dysphagia Related Outcomes in Patients Post-Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.DysphagiaDevice tongue exercise added to usual care did not improve the main tongue-pressure outcome more than usual care. Patients who added it did have better oral intake at 8 weeks, but this was a small pilot, and both groups improved over time.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Assessing Prevalence and Characteristics of Oro-bulbar Involvement in Children and Adults with SMA Type 2 and 3 Using a Multimodal Approach.DysphagiaOro-bulbar impairment is common in SMA types 2 and 3, particularly reduced mouth opening and tongue strength in children and non-ambulant adults. Objective tests often reveal problems that patients do not report, so clinicians should assess swallowing function directly rather than relying on patient complaints.
• SLPOther2024Comparing Taste Perception Across Modalities in Healthy Adults: Liquids Versus Dissolvable Taste Strips.DysphagiaHealthy adults rated custom-made dissolvable taste strips as less intense than liquid flavors, but liked them just as much. These strips match the flavors known to affect swallowing, offering a potential safe sensory tool for patients who cannot eat or drink by mouth.
• SLPOther2023Acoustic Analysis of Voluntary Coughs, Throat Clearings, and Induced Reflexive Coughs in a Healthy Population.DysphagiaAcoustic analysis clearly distinguishes voluntary coughs, throat clearings, and reflexive coughs in healthy adults. This offers speech therapists an objective alternative to unreliable auditory assessment for identifying these protective maneuvers during swallowing evaluations.
• SLPNarrative Review2024Biomechanical and Cortical Control of Tongue Movements During Chewing and Swallowing.DysphagiaChewing and swallowing require tongue shape changes, oral sensation, and cortical control. Loss of oral sensation or stroke-related cortical damage can disrupt food handling and swallowing, but no treatment is tested.
• SLPCohort2024Influences of motor speech impairments on the presentation of dysphagia in progressive supranuclear palsy.International journal of speech-language pathologyIn 73 people with progressive supranuclear palsy, worse motor speech severity and the presence of apraxia of speech predicted more severe pharyngeal swallowing impairment. Oral phase scores and diet safety did not relate to speech type. Swallowing function was largely preserved in this mild cohort.
• SLPPilot2024Acute Dysphagia Following Reperfusion Therapies: A Prospective Pilot Cohort Study.DysphagiaDysphagia rates remained above 90% in the first 72 hours after stroke reperfusion therapies. Higher initial stroke severity scores and poor clot removal outcomes predicted worse swallowing. These factors help SLPs triage risk, but the small pilot size limits certainty.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Dysphagia Prevalence and Outcomes Associated with the Evolution of COVID-19 and Its Variants in Critically Ill Patients.DysphagiaIn critically ill COVID-19 patients referred to speech pathology, 94% had dysphagia at initial assessment. Most recovered by discharge, but 29% still had swallowing problems. Longer time on a ventilator or tracheostomy was linked to slower recovery.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Clinical Features and Voxel-Based-Symptom-Lesion Mapping of Silent Aspiration in Acute Infratentorial Stroke.DysphagiaSilent aspiration occurred in 40.5% of acute infratentorial stroke patients, doubling pneumonia risk. Lesion location did not predict it. Do not rely on stroke severity scores alone; these patients need FEES assessment regardless of how mild their deficits appear.
• SLPOther2024Mast Cell Esophagitis: A Novel Entity in Patients with Unexplained Esophageal Symptoms.Dysphagia60% of adults with unexplained esophageal symptoms, including solid-food dysphagia, had at least 60 mast cells/mm2, about 15 cells per high-power field. Mast cell levels did not track with symptoms, labs, or atopy, so this does not prove cause or guide treatment.
• SLPOther2023Reference Values for Videofluoroscopic Measures of Swallowing: An Update.Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHRReference ranges for swallowing video measures in healthy adults aged 21 to 82 years can help clinicians compare patient VFSS values, but the limits are preliminary and depend on the exact test method.
• SLPSurvey2024"In Limbo"-use of, and alterations to, modified diets by nursing home staff in the absence of timely specialist support.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesMost nursing home staff reported starting thickened fluids or modified diets without waiting for a speech therapist. When a resident demanded plain water, over half refused it. Staff described feeling stuck between safety rules and the resident's choice because specialist help was delayed.
• PTOTSLPProtocol2023Content validation of the decannulation protocol for adult tracheostomized patients.CoDASExperts validated a decannulation protocol for adults, removing the blue-dye test and oral diet as prerequisites. They agreed that patients with dysphagia can still be decannulated if they can protect their airways, shifting focus to secretion management and clinical assessment.
• SLPOther2024The effect of liquid consistency on penetration-aspiration: a Bayesian analysis of two large datasets.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThickened liquids had less airway invasion than thin liquids across 678 participants at risk for dysphagia and 177 participants including healthy adults. A few people had worse airway protection on thicker liquids, so thickening needs assessment and monitoring.
• SLPOther2024Esophageal Infusion of Menthol Does Not Affect Esophageal Motility in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.DysphagiaInfusing menthol directly into the esophagus caused heartburn in all GERD patients but did not change how the esophagus squeezed or how tight the valve to the stomach remained. The burning sensation comes from nerve stimulation, not from muscle relaxation or reflux mechanics.
• SLPOther2024Swallowing Characteristics in Patients with Multiple System Atrophy Analyzed Using FEES Examination.DysphagiaIn MSA patients on full oral diets, nasal camera swallowing tests showed thin liquids were least safe: 17 of 24 had material enter above the vocal folds and 5 went below the vocal folds. Residue was common, and group comparisons were mostly not different.
• SLPOther2024Difference in the Electromyographic Behavior of the Masticatory and Swallowing Muscles During Cued Versus Spontaneous Swallowing.DysphagiaCued swallowing increased muscle activity, extended duration, and hastened initial activation compared to spontaneous swallowing in healthy adults. This held true regardless of food consistency or amount. The findings suggest swallowing style affects muscle behavior, but do not confirm clinical benefit.
• SLPCohort2024Therapeutic approach to dysphagia in post-COVID patients in a rehabilitation unit: a descriptive longitudinal study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePost-COVID patients with severe swallowing problems improved significantly after three weeks of therapy. The treatment mix varied by patient, so the specific benefit of each exercise cannot be separated. Without a control group, natural recovery cannot be ruled out.
• SLPCohort2023Correlation between findings of the oral myofunctional clinical assessment, pressure and electromyographic activity of the tongue during swallowing in individuals with different orofacial myofunctional disorders.CoDASTongue pressure correlated weakly with clinical myofunctional scores and facial measurements in 44 patients with mixed orofacial disorders. No strong link emerged between pressure and electromyographic swallowing timing or volume, so these tools measure different aspects of function.
• SLPOther2023Association between risk of dysphagia and signs suggestive of sarcopenia, nutritional status and frequency of oral hygiene in hospitalized elderly.CoDASHospitalized elderly with signs of muscle loss, poor nutrition, or infrequent oral hygiene were significantly more likely to report swallowing difficulties. Screen for these factors to identify patients at risk of dysphagia.
• SLPCohort2023Comparison of the introduction of consistencies in complementary feeding introduction between preterm and full-term newborns - Cohort from 0 to 12 months.CoDASPreterm and full-term infants in this cohort showed no difference in how they handled food textures or oral motor function. However, infants who had invasive oral procedures or used bottles were significantly more likely to have oral motor difficulties, regardless of gestational age.
• SLPCase-Control2023Videofluoroscopic measures of swallowing in people with stable COPD compared to healthy aging.CoDASIn stable COPD, swallowing showed shorter airway closure, earlier and shorter upper esophageal sphincter opening, and weaker pharyngeal squeeze compared with matched healthy adults. Penetration-aspiration was absent, so these differences may raise aspiration risk.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Clinical outcomes associated with speech, language and swallowing difficulties post-stroke.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsDysphagia after stroke was linked to greater disability, and swallowing difficulty with aspiration was linked to poorer oral intake in 68 South African adults. Links with referral timing and aspiration pneumonia risk factors were not clear.
• SLPCase Report2023Swallowing capacity and gravity of the laryngotracheal aspiration risk in atypical cerebellar stroke: case report.CoDASIn a single outpatient one year and five months after a cerebellar stroke, bedside swallowing screens found moderate dysphagia with aspiration risk. She had left mouth numbness, poor voluntary cough, and choking with liquids.
• SLPSystematic Review2024Characterizing Speech Phenotype in Individuals With Craniofacial Microsomia: A Scoping Review.American journal of speech-language pathologySpeech issues in craniofacial microsomia are common but inconsistently measured. Hypernasality and articulation errors are the most reported problems, yet prevalence varies widely across studies. Routine speech evaluation is recommended, though evidence for specific interventions remains limited.
• SLPCohort2024Prediction of dysphagia aspiration through machine learning-based analysis of patients' postprandial voices.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA machine learning model analyzing post-meal voice recordings distinguished aspiration from normal swallowing with an average accuracy score of 0.83. This offers a potential non-invasive screening tool, though it requires further validation before clinical use.
• SLPOther2024The Impact of Varying Nipple Properties on Infant Feeding Physiology and Performance Throughout Ontogeny in a Validated Animal Model.DysphagiaIn healthy infant pigs, nipple hole size and stiffness changed sucking effort, bolus size, and milk obtained. Only the large-hole compliant nipple linked stronger suction to more milk.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Longitudinal Analysis of Dysphagia and Factors Related to Postoperative Pneumonia in Patients Undergoing Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer.DysphagiaAfter esophagectomy, pharyngeal residue and vocal fold immobility worsened, with residue linked to pneumonia. Hyoid movement and vocal fold issues persisted at three months, though all patients returned to a full diet and no aspiration occurred.
• SLPSurvey2024Understanding Dysphagia Care in Pakistan: A Survey of Current Speech Language Therapy Practice.DysphagiaIn Pakistan, most speech therapists assess dysphagia using informal clinical exams rather than instrumental tests. They frequently modify food and fluid consistencies, often without clear evidence, and report significant barriers like limited resources and low awareness among physicians and families.
• SLPOther2024Acoustic Analysis of Swallowing of an Experimental Meal of Three Food Textures: A Comparative Aging Study.DysphagiaNumber of swallows and average swallow duration did not differ between adults 50 to 70 and over 70. Over a three-texture meal, older adults had longer gaps between swallows, longer meal time, and fewer swallows per minute.
• SLPSurvey2023Sleep habits and orofacial myofunctional self-assessment of children at risk for sleep breathing disorders.CoDASChildren with more orofacial complaints and poorer sleep habits were more likely to screen positive for sleep breathing disorder risk. All children screened as low risk for obstructive sleep apnea, but higher scores on one questionnaire correlated with higher scores on the others.
• SLPOther2024Validation of the DIGEST-FEES as a Global Outcome Measure for Pharyngeal Dysphagia in Parkinson's Disease.DysphagiaThe DIGEST-FEES score reliably grades pharyngeal dysphagia severity in Parkinson's patients. It correlates strongly with residue scales and oral intake, but weakly with aspiration events. Use it to track swallowing efficiency, not as a standalone safety check for silent aspiration.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Predictive Factors for Successful Decannulation in Patients with Tracheostomies and Brain Injuries: A Systematic Review.DysphagiaFor patients with brain injuries, decannulation success is predicted by better consciousness, effective swallowing, and a strong cough. Younger age and traumatic rather than anoxic causes also help. These factors suggest who might tolerate tube removal, but do not guarantee it.
• SLPPilot2024Alterations in Swallowing Six Weeks After Primary Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF).DysphagiaSix weeks after ACDF surgery, patients had significantly more pharyngeal residue due to reduced constriction, but airway protection remained intact with no aspiration. This suggests swallowing efficiency is impaired more than safety at this stage.
• SLPOther2024Dysphagia Management in the Emergency Department: Using Concept Mapping to Identify Actionable Change to Improve Services.DysphagiaEmergency department and speech-language staff prioritised clearer communication about diet and fluids, easier access to speech-language pathology, and earlier identification of dysphagia. They rated most changes important but hard to implement.
• SLPOther2024Impact of Reducing Fluoroscopy Pulse Rate on Adult Modified Barium Swallow Studies.DysphagiaLowering adult MBSS fluoroscopy pulse rate to 15 pps or less made swallow ratings less accurate and less reliable across all bolus types. Clinicians should keep MBSS pulse rates above 15 pps.
• SLPOther2024The Non-Speech Oral Movement Assessment for Children.Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP)Typically developing Dutch children aged 2 to 8 were assessed on 34 non-speech oral movements. Most items showed moderate-to-excellent reliability and clear age-related improvement. Reference values allow clinicians to judge if a child's oral motor skills are typical for their age.