The oropharyngeal swallow mechanism is comprised of several behaviours that change systematically or occur randomly. The systematic changes are dependent on the bolus characteristics (i.e. volume and viscosity) and voluntary control. An oropharyngeal swallow is rapid (less than 2 s), and videofluoroscopy is required to determine which muscles or nerves are damaged in dysphagic patients. Once th...

BACKGROUND The body of literature on oral motor and swallowing disorders in patients with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is limited. CASE REPORT The purpose of this study was to characterize oral motor and swallowing disorders in two siblings with AT, based on oral motor and swallowing assessments. Specific procedures were applied for oral motor and swallowing assessments and both patients underwen...

Swallowing disorders are common, especially in the elderly, and may cause dehydration, weight loss, aspiration pneumonia and airway obstruction. These disorders may affect the oral preparatory, oral propulsive, pharyngeal and/or esophageal phases of swallowing. Impaired swallowing, or dysphagia, may occur because of a wide variety of structural or functional conditions, including stroke, cancer...

In addition to voice and articulatory disorders, swallowing disorders have been reported in as many as 95% of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). This paper addresses the effects of intensive voice treatment (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, LSVT®) on swallowing and voice changes. After LSVT® there was an overall 51% reduction in the number of swallowing motility disorders. Voice changes i...