Communication and Swallowing Disorders: The Effects of Climate Change

Purpose: The environment plays a key role in determining the health of populations, and climate change is considered to be the greatest threat to human health in the 21st century. However, despite extensive research on its increasing effects on health in general, extremely limited attention has been paid to its impact on communication and swallowing disorders (CSDs). This is surprising considering the substantial effect that the environment and climate change (air pollution, infectious diseases, and extreme weather events) have on these disorders. Method: This tutorial is written by a speech-language pathologist and audiologist to provide education and resources on the ramifications of climate change for the professions. It also offers strategies for speech-language pathologists and audiologists (SLPAs) to use and to incorporate into their practice. Results and Conclusions: The effects of climate change on the incidence, development, and exacerbation of CSDs, such as aphasia, developmental language disorders, and dysphagia, are described in detail. As health professionals, SLPAs have the trust and respect of their clients and their community; they also have a duty of care to safeguard the health of their clients. The combination of prevention, advocacy, and education roles places SLPAs in the perfect position to take action on the effects of climate change on these disorders. To fulfill these roles and to address the pressing issue of climate change, several steps, ranging from the individual client level to the global level, are provided.

Tutorial on Clinical Practice for Use of the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing Procedure With Adult Populations: Part 1

Purpose: Representatives of the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (AB-SSD) and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Special Interest Group (SIG) 13: Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) developed this tutorial to identify and recommend best practice guidelines for speech-language pathologists who conduct and interpret fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) procedures in adults. This document also includes proposed training needs and methods for achieving competency. Expert opinion is provided regarding indications for performing the FEES exam, potential contraindications, adverse effects and safety, equipment and personal protection, the exam protocol, interpretation and documentation of findings, and training requirements to perform and interpret the exam. Conclusions: This tutorial by the AB-SSD and SIG 13 represents the first update about the FEES procedure since ASHA's position paper and technical report published in 2004. Creation of this document by members of the AB-SSD and SIG 13 is intended to guide professionals who are training for or practicing FEES in the adult population toward established best practices and the highest standards of care.

A Scoping Review of Research on Food Design Interventions to Improve Nutrition in Adults: A Focus on Food Shaping with Implications for Older Adults with Swallowing Disorders

The aim of this scoping review is to appraise and synthesise the scientific evidence on the use of food shaping interventions aimed at enhancing nutrition in adults. Specifically, the review aims to answer the following questions:1.What food shaping interventions have been examined as a means to increase access to nutrition for adults, across populations and settings?2.What food shaping interventions have been examined as a means to increase access to nutrition for older adults (a) with swallowing difficulty or with conditions with high prevalence of swallowing difficulty, or (b) in aged care settings?

The effects of different frequencies of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on patients with swallowing disorders after cerebral infarction

BACKGROUND: Swallowing disorders represent one of the most common complications after cerebral infarction. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of different frequencies of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on swallowing disorders after cerebral infarction. METHODS: Ninety patients with swallowing disorder after cerebral infarction were enrolled and randomly assigned to three groups: the 10 Hz frequency rTMS group (30 patients), the 5 Hz frequency rTMS group (30 patients), and the 1 Hz frequency rTMS group (30 patients); another 90 healthy persons without swallowing disorders were included as the control group. The Kubota’s water-swallow test, the video fluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS), and the Electroencephalograph (EEG) were analyzed before and after treatment; the EEG of the control group was detected as the baseline. RESULTS: The Kubota’s water-swallow test scores were significantly decreased while the scores of pharynx period and the aspiration degree of VFSS significantly increased in 10 Hz frequency rTMS group than before treatment (P≤0.05); the amplitudes of C3 of the EEG significantly increased in three frequency groups than before treatment (P≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 10 Hz frequency of rTMS is effective for the treatment of swallowing disorder after cerebral infarction, the excitement of C3 area maybe the therapeutic target of rTMS on swallowing disorder after cerebral infarction.

Translation and Validation of the Indonesian MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) in Head and Neck Cancer Patients with Swallowing Disorders

Introduction Dysphagia is common in head and neck cancer patients; it is associated with significant morbidity, including quality of life. Several instruments can be used to assess the quality of life of dysphagia patients, including the M.D Anderson dysphagia inventory (MDADI) questionnaire, which is sufficiently valid and reliable to improve the quality of life of patients with neurological disorders and head and neck cancer. Objective The purpose of the present study is to perform adaptation, cultural translation, and validation of the MDADI questionnaire for the Indonesian language. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed the validity and reliability of the MDADI Indonesian adaptation instrument in head and neck cancer patients with swallowing disorders in the Otorhinolaryngology clinic of the Dr. Sardjito hospital, Yogyakarta, from May to August 2019. Results There were 40 study subjects, including 31 men and 9 women. The MDADI instrument adapted to Indonesian is valid and reliable as an instrument for assessing the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer with swallowing disorders, with r-values ranging from 0.314 to 0.939. Internal consistency shows that Cronbach's α is 0.915, and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation) ranges from 0.919 to 0.985. Conclusion The translation and validation of the Indonesian MDADI instrument were performed as an instrument for assessing the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients with swallowing disorders.