Cross-system effects of dysphagia treatment on dysphonia: a case report

Traditionally, treatment of dysphagia and dysphonia has followed a specificity approach whereby treatment plans have focused on each dysfunction individually. Recently however, a therapeutic cross-system effect has been proposed between these two dysfunctions. At least one study has demonstrated swallowing improvement in subjects who completed a dysphonia treatment program. However, we are unaware of any evidence demonstrating the converse effect. In this paper, we present a case-report of a 74 year old male who demonstrated improvement in selected vocal parameters after completion of a dysphagia therapy program

The Effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on laryngopharyngeal sensitivity

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be at increased risk of aspiration secondary to impaired swallow function. One possible cause of this impairment is a reduction in laryngopharyngeal sensitivity. The relationship between COPD and laryngopharyngeal sensitivity has not been previously determined. We conducted a study to investigate the effect of COPD on laryngopharyngeal sensitivity by using laryngopharyngeal sensory discrimination testing (LPSDT). Our study population was made up of 20 adults (mean age: 71.7 yr) with clinically proven COPD and 11 healthy, age-matched controls. All 31 subjects underwent LPSDT with the use of an air-pulse stimulator via a nasendoscope. The threshold of laryngopharyngeal sensation was evaluated by measuring the amount of air pressure required to elicit the laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR). We found that the patients with COPD had a significantly higher LAR threshold than did the controls (p< 0.001). We conclude that patients with COPD have significantly less mechanosensitivity in the laryngopharynx. This sensory change may place patients with COPD at increased risk for aspiration.7 page(s

Measurement Of Voluntary Cough Production And Airway Protection In Parkinson Disease

Objective To examine relations between peak expiratory (cough) airflow rate and swallowing symptom severity in participants with Parkinson disease (PD). Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Outpatient radiology clinic at an acute care hospital. Participants Men and women with PD (N=68). Interventions Participants were cued to cough into an analog peak flow meter then swallowed three 20-mL thin liquid barium boluses. Analyses were directed at detecting potential relations among disease severity, swallowing symptom severity, and peak expiratory (cough) airflow rate. Main Outcome Measures Peak expiratory (cough) airflow rate and swallow symptom severity. Results Peak expiratory (cough) airflow rate varied significantly across swallowing severity classifications. Participants with more severe disease displayed a significant, linear decrease in peak expiratory (cough) airflow rate than those participants with earlier stage, less severe disease. Swallowing symptom severity varied significantly across groups when comparing participants with less severe PD with those with more severe PD. Participants with early stage PD demonstrated little to no swallowing symptoms and had the highest measures of peak expiratory (cough) airflow rate. In contrast, participants with the most severe swallowing symptoms also displayed the lowest measures of peak expiratory (cough) airflow rate. Conclusions Relations existed among PD severity, swallowing symptom severity, and peak expiratory (cough) airflow rate in participants with PD. Peak expiratory (cough) airflow rate may eventually stand as a noninvasive predictor of aspiration risk in those with PD, particularly those with later stage disease. Inclusion of peak expiratory (cough) airflow rates into existing clinical swallowing assessments may increase the sensitivity and predictive validity of these assessments