Description and Modeling of Swallowing Disorders After a Stroke

The oropharyngeal junction participates in 3 interpenetrating functions: Swallowing, Breathing and Speech. In the context of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, these are altered, isolated or associated manner, causing major disorders and representing a source of handicap for patients.

Understanding the swallowing mechanisms is therefore a major challenge to guide the rehabilitation and improve the initial and long-term prognosis of patients with stroke.

The main objective of this study is to describe and modeling, thanks to a clinical, physiological and radiological knowledge base, swallowing, speech and breathing, in patients with stroke and in healthy subjects.

For patients after stroke

Inclusion Criteria:

• First stroke confirmed by MRI < 15 days
• No severe leukoaraiosis
• Swallowing disorders identified (GUSS scale < 20)
• Neurological deficit identified (NIHSS scale <15)
• Patient able to cooperate for investigations
• Informed consent signed

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cerebral hemorrhage
• History of neurological disease that can lead to swallowing disorders
• History of laryngological disease such as previous surgery or radiation neck
• Tracheotomy
• Vigilance disorders
• Pregnant, parturient or nursing woman
• Protected adult
• Simultaneous participation in another study
• Non registered to the French social security system

For healthy subjects

Inclusion Criteria :

• Age between 18 and 40 years old
• French native speaker
• Normal hearing with or without corrective
• No oral or written language disorders
• No neurological or psychiatric disorders
• Informed consent signed

Exclusion Criteria

• MRI contraindication
• Pregnant, parturient or nursing woman
• Simultaneous participation in another study
• Non registered to the French social security system