Surface Electrical Stimulation for Treating Swallowing Disorders after Stroke: A Review of the Stimulation Intensity Levels and the Electrode Placements

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for treating dysphagia is a relatively new therapeutic method. There is a paucity of evidence about the use of NMES in patients with dysphagia caused by stroke. The present review aimed to introduce and discuss studies that have evaluated the efficacy of this method amongst dysphagic patients following stroke with emphasis on the intensity of stimulation (sensory or motor level) and the method of electrode placement on the neck. The majority of the reviewed studies describe some positive effects of the NMES on the neck musculature in the swallowing performance of poststroke dysphagic patients, especially when the intensity of the stimulus is adjusted at the sensory level or when the motor electrical stimulation is applied on the infrahyoid muscles during swallowing

Submucous cleft palate: Therapeutic needs at different ages

Introduction: Decision making about surgery in patients with submucous cleft palate (SMCP) is usually postponed until speech assessment is applicable. Therefore, these patients spend more years with disorders associated with cleft. This study was aimed to investigate and compare the prevalence of different communication disorders in patients with unrepaired SMCP at different ages, since this information can help to provide therapeutic services in multidisciplinary teams. Materials and Methods: Clinical records of patients over3 years of age with unrepaired SMCP who were visited in the Isfahan Cleft care team between the years 2005-2015, were reviewed. Percentage of patients demonstrating language disorder, compensatory misarticulation and hypernasality was calculated in three age groups (3-7,7-16, and over than16 years). Results: The majority of the 61 studied patients were preschool children and 37.8 of them suffered from obvious language deficits. 73.8 of the patients required speech therapy services due to compensatory misarticulation. The prevalence of compensatory misarticulation was significantly different between the group one and two (p=0.008). 37.7 of patients demonstrated moderate/severe hypernasality and so required instrumental assessments. Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of language deficits in the studied preschool children, there is an essential need for proper management of probable ear problems and more accurate evaluations of language in this group. The high prevalence of compensatory misarticulation in all studied age groups indicated these patients’ need for coherent speech therapy and psychological services because of the effects on the psychosocial development, also assessments of educational abilities and providing educational support. At least one third of these patients required instrumental assessments and probably surgeries. © 2020, Semnan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

A Scoping Review on the Effects of Kinesio Taping on Oropharyngeal Function Related to Swallowing and Feeding

Following the expansion of interdisciplinary communication among rehabilitative service providers, new techniques have been introduced for treating swallowing disorders. Kinesio taping (KT) is one of the recently noticed techniques in the rehabilitation of swallowing and feeding disorders. Given the novelty of this technique in research and practice, the present scoping review aimed to summarize the available evidence on the effects of KT on the oropharyngeal function related to swallowing, and to identify current knowledge gaps to guide future studies. The initial comprehensive search was conducted in the six databases in November 2022 and then was updated in June 2023. Studies were independently reviewed by two authors to exclude all types of reviews and study protocols, studies published only in an abstract form and also studies that used KT for improving voice and dysarthria symptoms. The methodology of the included studies was also critically appraised using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) standard tools by two authors. The results of the studies were categorized and reported based on their overall objectives. In final analysis, 21 articles were described. Study designs ranged from randomized control trials (RCTs) to the case reports. The effects of KT had been investigated on drooling, oral feeding skills of infants, immediate activation of swallowing muscles, and management of dysphagia in patients with stroke or cerebral palsy (CP). Although innovative approaches to use KT as a therapeutic method in swallowing disorders have been investigated in the studies, there are many methodological limitations that affected validity of the results. In general, it seems there is not enough evidence to add KT to the usual management of feeding and swallowing disorders yet. Further studies, therefore, are required to achieve more accurate conclusions in each of the objectives summarized in this study

Speech outcomes after palatal closure in 3-7-year-old children

INTRODUCTION: One of the main goals of the team approach in management of oro-facial clefts is to help the children with cleft palate have adequate speech development. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of articulation and resonance disorders following palate closure in children who were visited for routine examination by the Isfahan Cleft Care Team between 2011 and 2015, and to study the impact of cleft type and age at the time of palatoplasty on speech outcomes. METHODS: Clinical records of 180 preschool children with repaired cleft palate were reviewed. The percentage of children demonstrating hypernasality, nasal emission, nasal turbulence, and compensatory misarticulations was calculated. The relationship between cleft type and age at the time of palatal surgery, as independent variables, and speech outcomes were examined. RESULTS: 67.7 and 64.5 percent of the children demonstrated respectively moderate/severe hypernasality and nasal emission, and 71.1 percent produced compensatory misarticulations. Age at the time of palatal repair was significantly associated with compensatory misarticulations and also with moderate/severe hypernasality. The prevalence of compensatory misarticulations, significant hypernasality, nasal emission and also nasal turbulence was not significantly different in various types of cleft. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high prevalence of different speech disorders in preschool children with repaired cleft palate compared to other studies. This can be partly due to late palatal repair in the studied population. Despite many advances in cleft palate management programs in Iran, there are still many children who do not access the interdisciplinary team cares in their early childhood. We should, therefore, try to increase accessibility of appropriate and timely management services to all Iranian children with cleft lip/palate