Neuromuscular electrical stimulation versus traditional therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease and oropharyngeal dysphagia: effects on quality of life.

This study compares the effects of traditional logopedic dysphagia treatment with those of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) as adjunct to therapy on the quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease and oropharyngeal dysphagia. Eighty-eight patients were randomized over three treatment groups. Traditional logopedic dysphagia treatment and traditional logopedic dysphagia treatment combined with NMES at sensor or motor level stimulation were compared. At three times (pretreatment, post-treatment, and 3 months following treatment), two quality-of-life questionnaires (SWAL-QOL and MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory) and a single-item Dysphagia Severity Scale were scored. The Functional Oral Intake Scale was used to assess the dietary intake. After therapy, all groups showed significant improvement on the Dysphagia Severity Scale and restricted positive effects on quality of life. Minimal group differences were found. These effects remained unchanged 3 months following treatment. No significant correlations were found between dietary intake and quality of life. Logopedic dysphagia treatment results in a restricted increased quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. In this randomized controlled trial, all groups showed significant therapy effects on the Dysphagia Severity Scale and restricted improvements on the SWAL-QOL and the MDADI. However, only slight nonsignificant differences between groups were found.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Dutch version of SWAL-QoL.

The aim of this work was to translate the 44-item SWAL-QoL into Dutch (SWAL-QoL-NL) and compare the validity of this questionnaire against Euroqol in a Dutch population with dysphagia. SWAL-QoL was translated according to international guidelines. SWAL-QoL-NL and Euroqol were completed by 152 patients in seven diagnosis groups. Internal consistency and correlations were calculated. Scores for nine subscales (General burden, Food selection, Eating duration, Fear of eating, Sleep, Fatigue, Mental health, Social functioning and a symptom score) ranged between 0.80 and 0.92 (Cronbach's alpha). Two subscales (Eating desire and Communication scored 0.67 and 0.60, respectively, and were removed from the questionnaire. The 14-item battery on clinical symptoms showed an internal consistency of 0.80, allowing the use of a sum score on group level in clinical research. Correlation of SWAL-QoL-NL subscales with the Euroqol was negligible to low (Pearson's correlations range = 0.09-0.36). The 39-item SWAL-QoL-NL proved to be a reliable tool to examine the impact of dysphagia on quality of life in a Dutch population. Internal consistency allows the use of nine subscales of SWAL-QoL-NL for comparisons on a group level (0.80 < alpha < 0.92) only. Also a Symptom score can be derived from the raw data.

The use of biofeedback in the treatment of chronic dysphagia in stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the use of surface electromyographic feedback in the treatment of stroke patients with chronic dysphagia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of 11 consecutive patients with chronic dysphagia after stroke were analyzed. Our patients were treated for dysphagia with surface electromyography as biofeedback as adjunct to normal exercises. All patients suffered from dysphagia after stroke. The average time after onset was 31.1 months. All patients had been previously treated by speech therapists without success. Functional swallowing was estimated using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). At the start of the treatment 8 patients were tube dependent (FOIS < or = 4). Three patients were on an oral diet, but with restrictions (FOIS > or = 5). RESULTS: The patients were treated on average seven 7 times. The time between the first and last treatment session was on average 76.1 days (SD +/- 44.0; range = 29-168). Before treatment the average FOIS was 2.6 (SD +/-2.3) and after treatment 5.6 (SD +/-1.6). The median scores improved from 1 to 6, showing a significant and clinically relevant improvement (z = -2.820: p < 0.01) in swallowing function. In 6 of initially 8 patients with percutaneous enteral gastrostomy tubes, the feeding tube could be removed after treatment. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the use of surface electromyography as biofeedback in the treatment of chronic dysphagia after stroke could be an effective adjunct to standard therapy for swallowing disorders in 11 patients.

Validation of the voice handicap index using Rasch analysis.

BACKGROUND: The Voice Handicap Index is a tool for measuring the psychosocial consequences of voice disorders and consists of three dimensions. Previous psychometric evaluation of the VHI focused on the classic evaluation of reliability and validity, which is sample dependent. The authors used Rasch analysis to re-examine the dimensionality of the VHI and to produce item and scale statistics that are less sample dependent. In addition, they provide estimates of VHI item and person severities that are reported on the same logit unit scale, allowing a more straightforward interpretation of a VHI test score. PATIENTS: Dysphonic patients (N = 530), who were referred for phoniatric examination, filled out the VHI. RESULTS: Rasch analysis revealed two truly uni-dimensional constructs: the 20-item psychosocial scale and the 9-item physical-functional scale. Logit item severity measures ranged from -2.1 to +2.7. Person severity scores ranged from -4.4 to + 4.4 logits. The internal consistency of the reduced scales was similar to that of the original total VHI (0.95 and 0.84). The VHI consisted of two uni-dimensional constructs. Raw test scores can be transformed into logit unit severity measures, making the VHI more suitable for evaluating the effectiveness of voice-related therapy.

Viscosity is not a parameter of postdeglutitive pharyngeal residue: quantification and analysis with scintigraphy.

The aim of this study was to explore the influence of viscosity on pharyngeal residue in normal healthy volunteers. Scintigraphy was used to measure pharyngeal residue in 11 healthy volunteers after swallowing three different substances (age = 20.2-48.3 years). The first substance was a 10-ml solution of tap water with 0.5% xanthan with a viscosity of 4500 mPa s, comparable to a yogurt drink. The second and third substances were a 0.75% xanthan and a 1.00% xanthan solution, with viscosities of 10,500 and 21,000 mPa s, comparable to low-fat yogurt and 3% fat yogurt, respectively. Tap water was used as the control substance. Mean pharyngeal residue after swallowing tap water was 2.3% (SD = 1.2) of the initial volume in the oral cavity. Pharyngeal residue after swallowing 0.5% xanthan solution was 1.8% (SD = 0.8), after swallowing 0.75% xanthan solution 2.6% (SD = 2.2), and after swallowing 1.00% xanthan solution 2.8% (SD = 1.7). No significant correlation between increase of viscosity and pharyngeal residue was found. In healthy persons viscosity does not seem to be a significant parameter for pharyngeal residue for boluses with viscosities ranging from tap water to solutions having a viscosity comparable to 3% fat yogurt.