The Pulse

Improving Speech and Swallowing Using sEMG and Breathing Therapy Biofeedback

Patient Information: Female, Age 75

Diagnosis: Supraglottic Cancer / Oropharyngeal Dysphagia / Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

History: This woman was referred to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation services due to progressively worsening swallow function following completion of radiation therapy for supraglottic (throat) cancer. During hospitalization, a video fluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) was conducted due to dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) indicating aspiration (material entering the lungs), and a feeding tube was placed for all nutritional needs. Prior to the onset of throat cancer, she ate a regular diet.

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are commonly involved in the rehabilitation of patients presenting with cardiopulmonary disorders. Hospitalized patients diagnosed with respiratory diseases, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Chronic Heart Failure (CHF), and those with xerostomia are indicated as risk groups for development of oropharyngeal dysphagia. Additionally, patients who experience prolonged endotracheal intubation have been associated with the development of dysphagia (Malandraki et al., 2016).

Strength training and repetition of motor activity alone is not thought to result in functional recovery where impaired motor performance is the baseline. We know this to be true in movements required for both speech and swallowing in our patients who experience ataxia, apraxia, and other motor disruptions. Encouraging a patient with dysphagia to simply “practice” a dysphagic swallow with no modification to this task, is unlikely to produce a desired effect (Huckabee & McCrae, 2014).

Patient Information: Male, Age 71

Diagnosis: Subdural Hematoma / Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

History:
This gentleman was admitted to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation services following hospitalization due to a fall, which resulted in a traumatic subdural hematoma (bleeding between the skull and brain). He was then diagnosed with encephalopathy (damage to the brain) and oropharyngeal dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), with a feeding tube placed during his hospitalization to provide nutrition and hydration. Prior to his accident, this gentleman consumed a regular diet and drank thin liquids.

Patient Information: Female, Age 78

Diagnosis: Oral Cancer / Dysarthria / Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

History: This woman, a long-term care resident of a skilled nursing facility, has a history of oral cancer four years ago. At that time, she underwent removal of 50% of her tongue, tissue grafting for her palate, and has resultant decreased jaw movement, oropharyngeal dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and dysarthria (difficulty with speech production). Additionally, she underwent a tracheostomy (tube inserted into the trachea to assist with breathing) and a feeding tube was placed to provide nutrition due to her inability to eat and drink by mouth. She has received intermittent speech-language pathology services over the four years. Prior to her cancer, this woman had no limitations in eating, drinking, and speaking.

Patient Information: Female, Age 66

Diagnosis: Hemorrhagic Stroke / Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

History: This woman was admitted to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation services following hospitalization due to suffering a hemorrhagic stroke. As a result, she was diagnosed with altered mental status and oropharyngeal dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and a feeding tube was placed to provide nutrition and hydration. Prior to her stroke, this woman ate a regular diet and drank thin liquids.

Patient Information: Female, Age 62

Diagnosis: Stroke / Oral Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)

History: This woman was referred to outpatient speech therapy services due to continued deficits in her ability to speak, eat, and drink following a stroke seven months prior.

Patient Information: Female, Age 73

Diagnosis: Closed Head Injury / Intellectual Disability / Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

History: This woman, born with intellectual disability, was referred to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation services following hospitalization due to a fall at her group home, which resulted in a head injury and femur fracture. Prior to her fall, she lived in a group home with caregivers, was non-verbal, and consumed a regular diet with thin liquids. However, caregivers modified her diet to soft solids due to noted occasional difficulty in chewing and swallowing.

Patient Information: Male, Age 71

Diagnosis: Guillain-Barré Syndrome / Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

History: This gentleman was referred to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation services after a 3-month hospital stay. He was visiting his son in the United States from Venezuela when he began experiencing numbness in his legs. He was hospitalized and diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (rare autoimmune disorder that causes rapid and unexpected muscle weakness). While hospitalized he experienced multiple complications including infection, being placed on a ventilator, and placement of a feeding tube. Prior to his hospitalization he lived independently and ate a regular diet.