The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the influence of airflow via high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) on the duration of laryngeal vestibule closure (dLVC) and Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) scores. Twenty-nine healthy adults participated in a repeated-measures design. Each participant completed a videofluoroscopic swallow study while receiving airflow via HFNC across a control condition of zero flow and conditions of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 L/min. Five raters rated dLVC and PAS scores. Laryngeal vestibule closure was complete on all swallows. Linear regression revealed that the amount of airflow via HFNC significantly influenced dLVC, F(1, 810) = 19.056, p < .001. The mode of airway invasion for each airflow condition was PAS 2, with > 80% frequency compared to other PAS scores. Aspiration (PAS 7 or 8) did not occur. A Fisher's Exact test determined there was no association between normal/abnormal PAS score and no airflow/HFNC (p = .610). Findings indicate that for healthy adults, airflow via HFNC influenced dLVC in a dose-dependent manner with no change in airway invasion. The influence of HFNC on dLVC was a positive relationship, meaning when airflow increased, dLVC increased, and when airflow decreased, dLVC decreased. Modulation of dLVC in response to the amount of airflow highlights the ability of healthy adults to adapt to swallow conditions as needed to protect the airway.

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The lips and tongue play a substantial role in efficient clearance of food from the mouth and pharynx into the esophagus. No study has compared oral pressures between healthy individuals and poststoke individuals who report functional swallow abilities. <b><i>Aim:</i></b> The current study aimed to investigate the presence of differences in oral pressures between healthy individuals and poststroke individuals who report functional swallowing abilities. <b><i>Design:</i></b> This is a controlled matched pair study. <b><i>Population:</i></b> Eighteen control participants (CG) and 18 nondysphagic poststroke participants (NDSG) were enrolled into this study. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) was used to measure and compare tongue strength, endurance, and functional lingual and labial pressures between sex and age-matched pairs. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Six paired, two-tailed <i>t</i> tests revealed that tongue and lip pressures were different between the 2 groups. Maximum anterior tongue pressures and posterior tongue pressures were also different, i.e., <i>t</i>(17) = –2.89 (<i>p</i> = 0.010) and <i>t</i>(17) = –2.85 (<i>p</i> = 0.011), with the CG presenting higher pressures. Right lip pressures were significantly lower in the NDSG compared to the CG, i.e., <i>t</i>(17) = 2.45 (<i>p</i> = 0.0001). Left lip pressures were significantly lower in the NDSG compared to the CG, i.e., <i>t</i>(17) = –5.43 (<i>p</i> = 0.0001). Tongue endurance, i.e., <i>t</i>(17) = 0.092 (<i>p</i> = 0.928) and saliva swallow pressures, i.e., <i>t</i>(17) = –0.490 (<i>p</i> = 0.63) were not different. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Although poststroke participants reported functional swallowing abilities, there were differences in tongue and lip pressures but not in endurance or saliva swallow pressures. <b><i>Clinical Rehabilitation Impact:</i></b> Poststroke individuals without complaints of dysphagia who are not assessed may experience subclinical dysphagia that could negatively impact their nutrition and quality of life.

Nasality rating reliability/dispersion was influenced by the presence and location of anchor stimuli. Consistent with absolute judgment theory, nasality ratings showed a strong end effect.

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> The effortful swallow is a common treatment intervention requiring increased intensity to facilitate adaptations and modify swallow kinematics. The type of feedback and bolus volume provided may influence the intensity of the effortful swallow. To determine the increased effortful swallow intensity, a clinician can collect the peak amplitude of an effortful swallow and a typical swallow and compute a “swallow effort ratio” (SER). Dividing the effortful swallow surface electromyography (sEMG) peak amplitude by the typical swallow sEMG peak amplitude derives the SER. A higher SER suggests increased intensity. An increase in the SER may have clinical relevance in swallowing therapy as a threshold of intensity is required to elicit neuroplastic change. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether sEMG visual and clinician verbal feedback increases the SER. Additionally, the investigation examined whether the SER is influenced by different liquid bolus volumes. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Eighty-two nondysphagic, healthy adults were assigned at random to 2 groups. One group received no feedback, and the other received verbal and visual feedback while performing typical and effortful swallows at 3 liquid volumes. <b><i>Results:</i></b> An analysis of covariance compared the typical and effortful peak swallow amplitudes among 3 volumes in the 2 feedback groups. There was a significant effect on the peak amplitude values by feedback group <i>F</i>(2, 79) = 22.82, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001. There were no differences in peak amplitude by volume regardless of feedback <i>F</i>(2, 78) = 0.413, <i>p</i> = 0.663. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> It appears that sEMG visual and clinician verbal feedback increases the SER, which may be a surrogate for intensity. An increased SER may have a positive effect on swallow intervention as intensity is known to influence outcomes of exercise and elicit neuroplastic change.

The CTAR All-Star is a system consisting of a rubber ball, a pressure sensor, and a bluetooth transmitter paired with a cross-platform mobile application. The device is used as a rehabilitation tool for people with dysphagia in a similar fashion to the traditional chin tuck against resistance (CTAR) exercise by squeezing a ball between the chin and upper chest. The mobile device monitors and displays the pressure inside the ball on a real-time graph allowing the patient to follow exercise routines set by Speech-Language Pathologists. Additionally, the application stores exercise data that can be used to both monitor the patient's progress over time and provide objective data for future research purposes.