Protocol Number: 01-CC-0135

Title:

Effect of Task on Oral Pressure Dynamics During Swallowing

Number:

01-CC-0135

Summary:

This study will examine tongue strength and endurance, how the tongue applies pressure during swallowing, and how the chin muscles react during swallowing in healthy volunteers and in patients with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). The information from this study may be helpful in developing better treatments for people with swallowing problems.

Healthy volunteers who have no history of speech, swallowing or breathing problems and patients who have difficulty swallowing because of a neurologic disorder, musculoskeletal disease or head and neck cancer that caused tongue weakness and dysphagia may be eligible for this study. Such medical conditions may include stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, Gaucher's disease, leukodystrophy, cerebral palsy, myositis, or mouth, throat or neck cancer. Volunteers who have not participated in a NIH protocol for 1 year will be screened with a brief medical history and physical examination. Dysphagic patients not currently enrolled in a NIH protocol will also have a brief medical history and physical examination. In addition, they will have a modified barium swallow to determine the nature and degree of their swallowing difficulty.

Participants will have a 15-minute examination of movements of their tongue, lips and jaw and will fill out a questionnaire about their swallowing ability. They will then begin the tongue pressure test. To monitor and record tongue pressure, a thin rubber strip with air-filled pressure bulbs will be attached to the roof of the mouth with dental adhesive. The pressure bulbs are connected to an external pressure-reading device. In addition, a small plastic pad with adhesive backing will be placed under the chin. Electrodes (wires) attached to the pad record chin muscle activities.

With the pressure bulbs and chin electrodes in place, the patient will perform tongue pressure tasks to test tongue strength, how long the patient can maintain a certain tongue pressure, and how fast tongue pressure drops. The tasks include saliva swallows, water swallows and cup-drinking.

Sponsoring Institute:

Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center (CC)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Active Accrual Of New Subjects

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): None

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Eligible normal volunteers must:

(1) be at least 21 years of age;

(2) have no speech, swallowing, or respiratory problems;

(3) be in good general health;

(4) not be on medications that would adversely affect swallowing ability.

Eligible dysphagic patients must:

(1) be at least 21 years of age;

(2) have a neurologic disorder (e.g., CVA, PD, PSD, CBD, MS, Gaucher, leukodystrophy, cerebral palsy), musculoskeletal disease (e.g., polymyositis), or head and neck cancer that has caused impairments in tongue function and swallowing;

(3) present with oral or oropharyngeal dysphagia without aspiration based on results of the standard modified barium swallow study.

(4) have sufficient auditory comprehension and cognitive skills to follow test instructions and understand the nature of the study.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

(1) History of swallowing problems or other conditions that adversely affect swallowing function, tongue motility and control, hearing, language, and cognition.

(2) On medication (e.g., anticholinergics, antidepressants) that adversely affects swallowing function, tongue movement, comprehension, or cognition.

(3) Oral dryness that interferes with swallowing.

(4) Unsatisfactory performance status, as judged by the examining speech-language pathologist, that indicates poor compliance for the planned tasks (e.g., undiagnosed oral motor deficits).

For dysphagic patients:

(1) Aspiration, as identified via the modified barium swallow study.

(2) Pregnancy, as determined via a urine pregnancy test prior to the MBS test.

Special Instructions: Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Pressure

Swallowing

Tongue

Recruitment Keywords:

Healthy Volunteer

Dysphagia

Swallowing

Tongue

Conditions:

Deglutition Disorder

Healthy

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Contacts:

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citations:

Analysis of pressure generation and bolus transit during pharyngeal swallowing

Quantitative assessment of pharyngeal bolus driving forces

A new application for electropalatography: swallowing

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
• Technical questions regarding the Clinical Center web site, please contact the Department of Networks and Applications, CC.

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Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center (CC)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 10/22/2004