Respiratory Capacity and Swallowing Function in Spinal Disorders: A Pilot Study

Respiratory Capacity and Swallowing Function in Spinal Disorders: A Pilot Study

This study is part of a larger grant, for which the overall goal is to collect measurements of liquid flow through the oropharynx (i.e., mouth and throat) during swallowing.The focus of this study is to evaluate the flow of liquids of varying consistency in the spinal disorder population.

Thickened liquids are commonly used as an intervention for dysphagia (swallowing impairment). However, the field lacks a clear understanding of how liquids of different consistencies behave during swallowing. In order to improve understanding of the effectiveness of altered liquid consistency for improving dysphagia, the investigators are studying liquid flow through the oropharynx. This study explores this question in individuals with spinal cord injury. Participants will swallow 20% w/v barium thickened to different consistencies (thin, slightly thick, mildly thick, moderately thick and extremely thick). Swallowing will be observed under videofluoroscopy. Simultaneous measures of airflow via nasal cannula will be used to study respiratory-swallow coordination in this study sample.

Inclusion Criteria:

Spinal cord injury at the cervical or thoracic level (T6 or higher)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior history of swallowing, motor speech, gastro-esophageal difficulties, chronic sinusitis or taste disturbance.
• Neurological difficulties unrelated to spinal disorder (e.g. Stroke, Parkinson disease, etc).
• Cognitive communication difficulties that may hinder ability to participate.
• Current use of mechanical ventilation
• External instrumentation around the head/neck that would obstruct the field of view during the videofluoroscopy exam (e.g. cervical collar).
• Type 1 Diabetes (due to the requirement to swallow stimuli containing starch based thickeners, which carry a significant carbohydrate load).
• Known allergies to latex, food coloring or dental glue (due to the probability that these items will come into contact with the oral mucosa during data collection).
• Children and pregnant women (due to the use of radiation during the videofluoroscopic examination).