Effect of Swallowing Exercises on Swallowing Function for Patients with Neurogenic Dysphagia

Abstract

Background: Neurogenic dysphagia is one of the most common dangerous disorders for patients with neurological diseases. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of swallowing exercises on swallowing function for patients with neurogenic dysphagia. Patients and Methods: Research design: Quasi experimental (pre/post test) research design was used. Sample and Setting: A selected sample of 60 patients diagnosed with neurogenic dysphagia was recruited and also followed up for 2 months at neurology department and neurology outpatients clinic at neurology, psychiatry and neurosurgery Assiut University Hospital. Each patient was oriented and trained by the researchers to know the effect of practicing swallowing exercises and received brochure to be oriented about its effect on swallowing function. Tools: Patients assessment questionnaire, functional oral intake scale, Bazaz dysphagia score, eating assessment tool-10 and the 8-point penetration-aspiration scale. Results: The study finding revealed a highly statistical significant improvement (p < 0.0001) post application of the swallowing exercises as regard all outcome measures; functional oral intake scale, Bazaz dysphagia scale, aspiration and complications. Conclusion: Swallowing exercises significantly improve swallowing function and decrease severity of neurogenic dysphagia, aspiration and complications. Recommendation: The swallowing exercises (brochure) should be utilized in neurology hospitals as a teaching guide for patients with neurogenic dysphagia.

Effect of Oral Care and Swallowing Interventions on Post extubation Dysphagia among Children at Pediatric Intensive Care Units

“…This could be due to the presence of good oral health status that improve the patients' functional level of oral intake. This finding was congruent with previous study (33) that reported that the severity of dysphagia decreased and functional level of oral intake increased with improving oral health status. Concerning correlation between severity of dysphagia and functional oral intake for the study group, the present study revealed that there was negative correlation between severity of dysphagia and functional oral intake.…”

“…Concerning weight of studied children, the finding of the current study showed that there were no statistical significant differences at 5 % level of statistical significant in both study and control group between pre, 7 th and 14 th days of intervention. This result was in the same line with previous study (33) , who stated that no significant weight changes were observed among the studied patient on pre and post intervention. From the researchers' point of view this may be due to the short period of the intervention.…”

“…This could be due to decrease the difficulty of swallowing after the intervention which consequently improve the total oral intake. This finding was consistent with previous study (33) that showed that there was a significant relation between functional oral intake score and Bazaz dysphagia scale score (dysphagia severity), Conclusion Based on the findings of the present study, it was concluded that nursing intervention that involves swallowing and oral care for a period of 30 minutes per day for 14 th days reduces post-extubation dysphagia, improves clinical swallowing function, and increases the probability of faster oral intake after extubation.…”

“…Also, in another previous study (29) mentioned that there was a statistically significant improvement of the functional oral intake post intervention compared to pre intervention. In addition, in previous study (33) the majority of patients had improvement in the functional oral intake after swallowing exercises. On the other hand, in previous study (29) mentioned that examined how lingual exercise affected swallowing in elderly persons over the age of 75 and discovered that there was no improvement in oral intake over the course of the next 14 days.…”

“…This finding was congruent with previous study (36) that indicated there was absence of dysphagia after the application of the swallowing exercises for patients with post extubation dysphagia. Also, previous study, (33) indicated that the majority of patients had absence of dysphagia after swallowing exercises. This may be related to the swallowing exercises that is associated with a positive effect on swallowing physiology which leads to improvement in swallowing initiation, laryngeal elevation, post swallowing residue and thus reduce the severity of dysphagia over the course of intervention.…”