Screening and evaluation tools of dysphagia in children with neuromuscular diseases: a systematic review

Understanding Dysphagia Care in Pakistan: A Survey of Current Speech Language Therapy Practice

Dysphagia affects individuals across all ages and has pervasive and potentially life-threatening consequences. Individuals with dysphagia are assessed and treated by speech and language therapists (SLTs), however, little attention has been paid to their practices in Pakistan. This study aimed to explore SLTs practices for dysphagia assessment, signs and symptoms observed during evaluation, and management strategies, alongside barriers and facilitators to service delivery in Pakistan. A 45-item survey was distributed to SLTs online. Responses were received from 101 participants and analyzed descriptively, and open-text responses were analyzed using content analysis. Results revealed that 65.3% SLTs worked across the lifespan, and most (79.4%) had dysphagia-related experience of five years or less. SLTs were an active workforce engaged with varying ages, disorders, and settings, yet dysphagia contributed to a small caseload percentage for most. Analyses found informal clinical exams were more frequently used than instrumental assessments. A variety of service provision facilitators were described, such as supportive teams and accessible resources, and responses about barriers revealed gaps in awareness, education, and guidance. This exploratory study presents novel and unexplored data which provides a deeper understanding of dysphagia-related care in Pakistan.

Translation and validation of traditional Chinese version of the pediatric eating assessment Tool-10

BACKGROUND

/Purpose: The Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool-10 (Pedi-EAT-10) is a caregiver-administrated subjective questionnaire for evaluating swallowing and feeding disorders among children. This study translated the Pedi-EAT-10 into Traditional Chinese and tested the translated version's reliability and validity.

METHODS

Pedi-EAT-10 was translated into Traditional Chinese by experts and finalized after discussion and testing. A total of 168 participants, consisting of 32 children with dysphagia from a tertiary medical center and 136 healthy controls from its Children Care Center for Employees, were recruited. All participants were assessed by an otolaryngologist and speech-language pathologist. The reliability, validity, and efficacy of the translated Pedi-EAT-10 were analyzed to ensure it could be used to identify pediatric dysphagia and feeding problems.

RESULTS

The Traditional Chinese version of the Pedi-EAT-10 had significant clinical discriminative validity between the dysphagia group and the control group (total score = 9.6 vs. 2.6, P < 0.001), acceptable test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.63), and excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.91 for the entire cohort). The overall performance of the test for distinguishing children with dysphagia from normal controls was acceptable, and the area under the curve was 74.8% (sensitivity = 71.9%; specificity = 69.9%). The optimal cutoff score was ≥3 on the Youdex index.

CONCLUSIONS

The Traditional Chinese version of the Pedi-EAT-10 has fair reliability and validity and can be quickly and easily completed by caregivers. The translated Ped-EAT-10 can be used as a first-line tool for assessing the need for further referral and instrumental examination.

Pediatric Dysphagia Risk Screening Instrument (PDRSI) in Children With Cerebral Palsy

This study aimed to evaluate whether the Pediatric Dysphagia Risk Screening Instrument (PDRSI) was a suitable test for children with cerebral palsy (CP) and assess the instrument's Turkish validity and reliability. One-hundred twenty-six children with CP participated in this study. "Cronbach's alpha (ɑ)," "Cronbach's ɑ when one item is deleted," "inter-item correlation," and "corrected item-to-total correlation" were used to assess internal consistency. In addition, inter-rater agreement tests (Cohen's kappa coefficient) were conducted for reliability. Construct validity was used to assess the validity. Moreover, flexible fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of the swallowing method was used to describe the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and calculate the sensitivity and specificity of T-PDRSI. It was found that the PDRSI had adequate validity and reliability. The PDRSI can be used in children with CP as a valid and reliable instrument with high sensitivity and specificity.

Validation and cultural adaptation of a Greek Version of Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool 10 (PEDI - EAT - 10) in Greek-Cypriot Parents

PURPOSE

The Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (PEDI-EAT-10) is a parents/caregivers screening tool that assesses pediatric patients at risk of penetration and/or aspiration symptoms. The aim of this study was the validation of PEDI-EAT-10 in the Greek language.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 222 parents/caregivers of children with (n = 122) and without (n = 100) feeding and/or swallowing disorders, with age range 3 - 12 years. The children were selected from Cypriot schools and health settings. All parents filled out the PEDI-EAΤ-10 questionnaire and after its initial completion, it was re-administered after 2 weeks.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference was observed in the PEDI-EAT-10 total mean scores between the study's two groups [t (220) = 9.886, p < 0.001]. Internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alpha= 0.801) with very good split-half reliability equal to 0.789. A significant and strong test-retest reliability was computed (r = 0.998, p < 0.001). The PEDI-EAT-10 cutoff point was 11.00 (AUC: 0.869, p < 0.001) for children with feeding and/or swallowing disorders in accordance with the PAS scale.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the Greek version of PEDI-EAT-10 is shown to be a valid and reliable screening tool for the assessment of the pediatric population with a risk of dysphagia.

Predictors of overload in parents of children with neuromuscular diseases

Introduction

Parents of children with neuromuscular diseases experience multiple difficulties in their daily lives that affect their physical and psychological health. The risk factors for these health issues have not been sufficiently investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the potential predictors of overload in these parents, including QoL, somatic symptomatology, life satisfaction, psychological adjustment and certain sociodemographic variables.

Methods

A cross-sectional research study was conducted among parents who are caregivers for children with NMD in Spain. A convenience sample of 110 parents who were contacted by associations and hospitals was used. Variables were evaluated using the sociodemographic questionnaire, CarerQol-7D, PHQ-15, Barthel Index, Psychological Adaptation Scale, Zarit Overload Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale.

Results

One of the most relevant findings of the present study is the identification of 3 overload groups (mild to moderate, moderate to severe, and severe overload) based on life satisfaction and somatic symptom scores within the predictive model of the discriminate analysis. Wilk's lambda of the discriminant function was 0.568, χ2 (2, n = 55) = 8.815, p < 0.001.

Discussion

This study presents a model that reveals the influence of unemployment, having a child with a severe level of dependency, the presence of somatic symptomatology and life satisfaction on caregiver overload. Likewise, the caregiver's self-esteem could be a protective factor against overload.

Evolution of swallowing and feeding abilities of neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy during hospitalisation: A case series

PURPOSE

To describe the evolution of swallowing and feeding abilities of neonates with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) during hospitalisation.

METHOD

A longitudinal cohort study was used. Twenty-nine participants (median age 39.0 weeks [IQR = 2.0 weeks]) with mild (n = 7), moderate (n = 19) and severe (n = 3) HIE were included. Clinical swallowing and feeding assessments were conducted at introduction of oral feeds and at discharge using the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale (NFAS). Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) supplemented the NFAS before discharge.

RESULT

Approximately two thirds of participants showed symptoms of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) during initial NFAS and VFSS. Significantly fewer OPD symptoms occurred at discharge NFAS (p = 0.004). Endurance during non-nutritive sucking (p < 0.001) and nutritive sucking (p < 0.001) significantly improved. Nine participants (31.0%) demonstrated penetration or aspiration. Most aspiration events were silent (60%). Instrumental assessment identified pharyngeal phase dysphagia more effectively than bedside evaluation. High proportions of participants displayed OPD symptoms regardless of HIE severity. The correlation between OPD severity and the length of hospitalisation (p = 0.052) was not significant.

CONCLUSION

All grades of HIE should be considered for early intervention by speech-language pathologists before discharge. Findings may be valuable to neonatal feeding teams.

Differentiation of Bolus Texture During Deglutition via High-Density Surface Electromyography: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

Swallowing is a complex neuromuscular task. There is limited spatiotemporal data on normative surface electromyographic signal during swallow, particularly across standard textures. We hypothesize the pattern of electromyographic signal of the anterior neck varies cranio-caudally, that laterality can be evaluated, and categorization of bolus texture can be differentiated by high-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) through signal analysis.

METHODS

An HDsEMG grid of 20 electrodes captured electromyographic activity in eight healthy adult subjects across 240 total swallows. Participants swallowed five standard textures: saliva, thin liquid, puree, mixed consistency, and dry solid. Data were bandpass filtered, underwent functional alignment of signal, and then placed into binary classifier receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Muscular activity was visualized by creating two-dimensional EMG heat maps.

RESULTS

Signal analysis results demonstrated a positive correlation between signal amplitude and bolus texture. Greater differences of amplitude in the cranial most region of the array when compared to the caudal most region were noted in all subjects. Lateral comparison of the array revealed symmetric power levels across all subjects and textures. ROC curves demonstrated the ability to correctly classify textures within subjects in 6 of 10 texture comparisons.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study suggests that utilizing HDsEMG during deglutition can noninvasively differentiate swallows of varying texture noninvasively. This may prove useful in future diagnostic and behavioral swallow applications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 133:2695-2703, 2023.

Bedside evaluation of swallowing function to predict aspiration pneumonia in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

OBJECTIVE

Aspiration pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death in patients with muscular dystrophy; therefore, it is important to predict its occurrence in the clincal setting. We aimed to examine the usefulness of repeated saliva swallowing test (RSST), modified water swallowing test (MWST), and flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) for evaluating the Hyodo score at the bedside, to predict the risk of aspiration pneumonia in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study involving 43 patients, we evaluated the swallowing function using the RSST, MWST, and FEES, and predicted the likelihood of aspiration pneumonia within 2 years after the assessment. The Hyodo score, a scoring system for evaluating the swallowing function determined by the FEES, was used.

RESULTS

Pneumonia was observed in 14 patients (32.6%). The RSST was not significantly useful for predicting the onset of pneumonia. The MWST was reported to have a cutoff value of < 4 points. Significantly more patients in the pneumonia group had an MWST score of < 4 points. The results revealed that the occurrence of pneumonia could be predicted based on a Hyodo cutoff score of ≥ 6. Significantly more patients in the pneumonia group had an MWST score of < 4 or a Hyodo score of ≥ 6.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining MWST and FEES is useful for evaluating the bedside swallowing function and predicting the onset of pneumonia.

Assessing Bulbar Function in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Using Patient-Reported Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Novel Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) treatments have demonstrated improvements on motor measures that are clearly distinct from the natural history of progressive decline. Comparable measures are needed to monitor bulbar function, which is affected in severe SMA.

OBJECTIVE

To assess bulbar function with patient-reported outcome measures (PROs) and determine their relationships with clinical characteristics.

METHODS

We recruited 47 non-ambulatory participants (mean (SD) age = 29.8 (13.7) years, range = 10.3-73.2) with SMA. PROs including Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) were collected alongside clinical characteristics and standardized motor assessments. Associations were assessed using Spearman correlation coefficients and group comparisons were performed using Wilcoxon rank sum tests.

RESULTS

A majority of the 47 participants were SMA type 2 (70.2%), non-sitters (78.7%), 3 copies of SMN2 (77.5%), and using respiratory support (66.0%). A majority (94%) reported voice issues primarily in 8/30 VHI questions. Problems included: difficulty understanding me in a noisy room (87.2%); difficult for people to hear me (74.5%); and people ask me to repeat when speaking face-to-face (72.3%). A majority (85.1%) reported swallowing issues primarily in 3/10 EAT-10 questions: swallowing pills (68.1%); food sticks to my throat (66.0%); and swallowing solids (61.7%). The two PROs were moderately associated (rs = 0.66).

CONCLUSIONS

Weaker individuals with SMA experience bulbar problems including difficulties with voice and swallowing. Further refinement and assessment of functional bulbar scales will help determine their relevance and responsiveness to changes in SMA. Additional study is needed to quantify bulbar changes caused by SMA and their response to disease-modifying treatments.

Relationship Between Pneumonia and Dysphagia in Patients With Multiple System Atrophy

Introduction

Dysphagia is one of the most clinically significant disabilities in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA), because it can cause aspiration pneumonia, which is potentially fatal. In this study, the Neuromuscular disease Swallowing Status Scale (NdSSS), which was developed to evaluate dysphagia in patients with neuromuscular diseases, was used to evaluate patients with MSA. In addition, correlation between a history of pneumonia and swallowing function was evaluated.

Methods

Study 1: Reliability, concurrent validity, and responsiveness of the NdSSS in patients with MSA. In 81 patients for whom evaluation items could be collected, the NdSSS was tested for its interrater and intrarater reliability using weighted kappa statistics. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating the NdSSS with existing scales (Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), Functional Intake LEVEL Scale (FILS), and the unified MSA rating scale (UMSARS)) using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Sixty-three patients were evaluated by videofluorographic (VF) swallowing examination. To evaluate concurrent validity, Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated between the NdSSS and VF swallowing assessments. Additionally, scale responsiveness was determined using the standardized response mean (SRM) in 23 patients who could be followed up to assess their long-term course. Study 2: Cross-sectional survey of swallowing function and history of pneumonia. Data regarding history of pneumonia, UMSARS, NdSSS, age, sex, MSA subtype, and disease duration were retrospectively obtained from the medical records of 113 patients with MSA. Differences in these parameters and NdSSS stage between those with and without a history of pneumonia were examined using the Mann-Whitney test or chi-squared test. Furthermore, clinical factors related to a history of pneumonia were examined by binomial logistic regression analysis.

Results

The NdSSS showed satisfactory reliability, concurrent validity, and responsiveness. A history of pneumonia was related to the severity of MSA, age, MSA subtype, and NdSSS stage. Binomial logistic regression analysis showed that NdSSS stage (odds ratio (OR), 0.490; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.301–0.797, p = 0.001) and MSA subtype (OR, 4.031; 95% CI, 1.225–13.269, p = 0.021) were significantly associated with a history of pneumonia.

Conclusions

In patients with MSA, the NdSSS has sufficient reliability, concurrent validity, and responsiveness for assessing dysphagia. Patients with a history of pneumonia have more severe dysphagia. We found that the pneumonia risk was related to NdSSS stage and MSA-p (predominantly parkinsonism). Meticulous care to prevent aspiration is needed from early stages of the disease.

Delphi consensus on recommendations for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy in Spain (RET-AME consensus)

INTRODUCTION

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a biallelic mutation of the SMN1 gene, located on the long arm of chromosome 5, and predominantly affects the motor neurons of the anterior horn of the spinal cord, causing progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. The development of disease-modifying treatments is significantly changing the natural history of SMA, but uncertainty remains about which patients can benefit from these treatments and how that benefit should be measured.

METHODOLOGY

A group of experts specialised in neurology, neuropediatrics, and rehabilitation and representatives of the Spanish association of patients with SMA followed the Delphi method to reach a consensus on 5 issues related to the use of these new treatments: general aspects, treatment objectives, outcome assessment tools, requirements of the treating centres, and regulation of their use. Consensus was considered to be achieved when a response received at least 80% of votes.

RESULTS

Treatment protocols are useful for regulating the use of high-impact medications and should guide treatment, but should be updated regularly to take into account the most recent evidence available, and their implementation should be assessed on an individual basis. Age, baseline functional status, and, in the case of children, the type of SMA and the number of copies of SMN2 are characteristics that should be considered when establishing therapeutic objectives, assessment tools, and the use of such treatments. The cost-effectiveness of these treatments in paediatric patients is mainly influenced by early treatment onset; therefore, the implementation of neonatal screening is recommended.

CONCLUSIONS

The RET-AME consensus recommendations provide a frame of reference for the appropriate use of disease-modifying treatments in patients with SMA.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for children with dysphagia: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Dysphagia in childhood has important health impacts for the child and their family as well as the healthcare system. This systematic review aims to determine the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for treatment of oropharyngeal dysphagia in children.

METHODS

A search was performed on November 2020 in MEDLINE (from 1946), EMBASE (from 1947), PsycINFO (from 1806), CINAHL (from 1937), CENTRAL (from 1996) and Scopus (from 1970) databases. Studies of children (≤18 years) diagnosed with oropharyngeal dysphagia using NMES in the throat/neck region were included. Screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and a modified Newcastle-Ottawa assessment for observational studies. A meta-analysis was not conducted due to clinical heterogeneity in studies.

RESULTS

Ten studies were included (5 RCTs, 4 case series, 1 cohort study; including 393 children, mean or median age below 7 years, including children with neurologic impairments). In all studies, swallowing function improved after NMES treatment. The standardised mean difference (SMD) for improvement of swallowing dysfunction in treatment compared with control groups in the RCTs ranged from 0.18 (95% CI -0.7 to 1.06) to 1.49 (95% CI 0.57 to 2.41). Eight of 10 studies reported on the child's feeding ability, and, with one exception, there was improvement in feeding ability. Few studies reported on health status (N=2), impact on caregiver (N=1), adverse events and harms (N=2), and child's quality of life (N=1). In most studies, outcome follow-up was less than 6 months. The studies demonstrated moderate to high risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

NMES treatment may be beneficial in improving swallowing function for children with dysphagia, however, given the quality of the studies, inadequate outcome reporting, and short follow-up duration, uncertainty remains. Well-designed RCTs are needed to establish its effectiveness before its adoption in clinical practice.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019147353.

European Survey: Dysphagia Management in Patients with Neuromuscular Diseases

Dysphagia is common in patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). Its management differs by country and clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to describe current practices in the management of dysphagia in NMDs across Europe. An online survey of sixteen questions was developed, including basic information on facilities, existence of a management protocol, availability of dedicated therapists, tools used during screening, assessment, treatment stages, and treatment strategies. The survey was rolled out to European healthcare facilities providing care for NMDs. A total of 140 facilities across 25 European countries completed the survey. Substantial discrepancies in dysphagia management were identified among respondents. Seventy-two percent of the facilities reported having a protocol for at least one of the three management stages whereas only 39% had one for all. Speech and language therapists were reported as involved throughout the entire management stage while participation of other members from multidisciplinary teams varied depending on the stage. Clinical swallowing assessment was the most frequently reported tool in the assessment and treatment stages. For screening, questionnaires were the most frequently used while instrumental examinations were mainly reported in the assessment stage. For the treatment stage, adaptation strategies (diet, food, and posture) were the most reported approaches. In conclusion, the survey highlighted the absence of a defined protocol concerning the management of dysphagia in most of the surveyed healthcare facilities. Standardized training strategies and guidelines are necessary in the future to familiarize clinicians with each stage of the management of dysphagia.

Validation and psychometric properties of the Turkish version of Neuromuscular disease Swallowing Status Scale (NdSSS) in patients with oro-pharygo-esophageal dysphagia in neuromuscular disorders

Objective

Dysphagia is one of the most disabling conditions arising from neuromuscular disorders(NMD). There is no specific methods to use in the evaluation of dysphagia in NMD patients. We aimed both to evaluate the applicability of the Neuromuscular Disease Swallowing Status Scale (NdSSS) for dysphagia in all phases of swallowing in various NMD patients and to investigate psychometric properties of this scale.

Methods

Patients with NMD were enrolled. Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), NdSSS and High-Resolution Esophageal Manometry (HRM) were performed on all subjects within 72 hours. While the convergent and concurrent validities were used as validation method, Cohen's kappa and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were calculated for inter-rater reliability. The correlation between FOIS, PAS and HRM diagnosis according to Chicago version 3.0 (CCv3) were analyzed.

Results

115 NMD patients were included. There was good correlation between NdSSS and FOIS and PAS scores (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r):0.927, r:0.927 and r:-0.836, r:0.841, respectively). Also, there was a positive good correlation between NdSSS and CCv3 evaluating disorders of esophageal peristalsis (r:0.677-0.679, p=0.001). When evaluated separately, there were good correlation between NdSSS levels; and PAS (r:-0.648-0.656); and CCv3 (r:0.514-0.573) levels for ALS. For Myasthenia gravis there was a good correlation between NdSSS levels; and CCv3 (r:0.577-0.622); FOIS (r:0.508-0.521); and PAS (r:-0.504-0.519) scores. Also, for myopathy; a very good(CCv3(0.976-0.982)) and good(FOIS (0.511-0.581) and (PAS (-0.516-0.550)) correlations were defined for myopathy.

Conclusion

The NdSSS was found applicable to detect both oropharyngeal and esophageal dysphagia risk in patients with NMD and is a valid and reliable swallowing screening tool that can evaluate oro-pharyngo-esophageal dysphagia in NMD patients.

Oral and Swallowing Abilities Tool (OrSAT) for Type 1 SMA Patients: Development of a New Module

We describe the development of a new tool specifically designed to record oral abilities, swallowing and, more generally, feeding in young type 1 SMA patients, to be used during the first 24 months of life.The tool is composed by a checklist and a separate section summarizing the functional abilities into levels of feeding/swallowing impairment. The checklist includes 12 questions assessing aspects thought to be clinically meaningful for a type 1 SMA population and developmentally appropriate for infants during the first months of life. Each item is graded with a score of 0 or 1, depending on the child's ability to perform the activity. As some items are age-dependent, the number of items to be used, and therefore the maximum score, changes with increasing age. The levels of feeding/swallowing impairment include four levels that can be identified using easily identifiable clinical criteria.In an attempt to validate the tool in an untreated population we applied it to 24 type 1 SMA patients (age range: 2.3-24.1 months, mean: 10.8) in whom the same information collected by the new tool had been previously recorded using a less-structured format.When patients were classified in three groups according to the Dubowitz decimal classification, there was a significant difference both at baseline and at follow-up (p < 0.001). The items assessing fatigue during the nursing sessions were the most frequently impaired even in infants who did not have any other obvious clinical sign of swallowing difficulties.

Dysphagia and Dysarthria in Children with Neuromuscular Diseases, a Prevalence Study

BACKGROUND

Dysphagia and dysarthria are frequently described in pediatric neuromuscular diseases (pNMD). The consequences can be substantial: failure to thrive, malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, or communication problems. Early detection and identification of risk factors and etiology support preventing complications and morbidity, including impact on quality of life. Information about the prevalence of dysphagia and dysarthria in pNMD is scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the pooled prevalence of dysphagia and dysarthria in pNMD in the Netherlands. In addition, we describe the prevalence of dysphagia and dysarthria each, and the prevalence of chewing (oral) and swallowing problems per diagnostic group, based on their anatomic origin.

METHODS

Data were collected from 295 children (mean age 11;0 years, range 2;6-18;0) with pNMD in 12 hospitals and rehabilitation centers in the Netherlands. A speech language therapist established whether dysphagia and dysarthria were present or not.

RESULTS

In almost all the 14 diagnostic groups of pNMD, dysphagia and dysarthria were present. Pooled overall prevalence of dysphagia and dysarthria was 47.2% and 31.5%, respectively. Of 114 children with dysphagia, 90.0% had chewing problems, 43.0% showed swallowing problems and 33.3% showed both chewing and swallowing problems.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall pooled prevalence of dysphagia and dysarthria was high in the population of pNMD. It can be argued that periodic monitoring of dysphagia and dysarthria and early referral to a speech language therapist should be a necessity from the start of the diagnosis in the whole pNMD population.

Early detection of dysphagia and dysarthria in children with neuromuscular disorders: Diagnostic accuracy of a Screeninglist for Physicians

PURPOSE

Regardless of age or disease stage, children with neuromuscular disorders (NMD) are at risk of developing dysphagia and/or dysarthria. It is important to screen these children regularly in order to detect and treat problems as soon as possible. To date, there are no standardized tools for screening for dysphagia and dysarthria in children with NMD (pNMD). Thus, children are not always referred for assessment by a speech language therapist (SLT). A new screening instrument for dysphagia and dysarthria has been developed, the Screeninglist Physician of the Diagnostic list for Dysphagia and Dysarthria in pediatric NMD (DDD-pNMD). The diagnostic accuracy was estimated in this study.

METHODS

Sensitivity and specificity were assessed in 131 children aged 2.0-18.0 years by comparing the outcome of the Screeninglist Physician with the diagnosis of dysphagia and/or dysarthria established by an SLT.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of the Screeninglist Physician was 88% and its specificity was 63%. The AUC was 0.83. The prevalence of dysphagia and/or dysarthria was 53%.

CONCLUSION

The Screeninglist Physician of the DDD-pNMD is the first valid screening tool for physicians to identify children with NMD with possible dysphagia and/or dysarthria, thereby enabling timely referral to an SLT.

Neuromuscular Ultrasound: Clinical Applications and Diagnostic Values

Advances in high-resolution ultrasound have provided clinicians with unique opportunities to study diseases of the peripheral nervous system. Ultrasound complements the clinical and electrophysiology exam by showing the degree of abnormalities in myopathies, as well as spontaneous muscle activities in motor neuron diseases and other disorders. In experienced hands, ultrasound is more sensitive than MRI in detecting peripheral nerve pathologies. It can also guide needle placement for electromyography exam, therapeutic injections, and muscle biopsy. Ultrasound enhances the ability to detect carpal tunnel syndrome and other focal nerve entrapment, as well as pathological nerve enlargements in genetic and acquired neuropathies. Furthermore, ultrasound can potentially be used as a biomarker for muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy. The combination of electromyography and ultrasound can increase the diagnostic certainty of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aid in the localization of brachial plexus or peripheral nerve trauma and allow for surveillance of nerve tumor progression in neurofibromatosis. Potential limitations of ultrasound include an inability to image deeper structures, with lower sensitivities in detecting neuromuscular diseases in young children and those with mitochondrial myopathies, due to subtle changes or early phase of the disease. As well, its utility in detecting critical illness neuromyopathy remains unclear. This review will focus on the clinical applications of neuromuscular ultrasound. The diagnostic values of ultrasound for screening of myopathies, neuropathies, and motor neuron diseases will be presented.

Dysphagia and risk of aspiration pneumonia: A nonrandomized, pair-matched cohort study

Background/purpose

Dysphagia was associated with increased prevalence of aspiration pneumonia (AP) in studies that were criticized for either their small sample size or lack of prospective design. Using a considerably larger nationwide, population-based database and a long-term prospective cohort design, our study aimed to explore the relationship between dysphagia and the subsequent development of AP.

Materials and methods

From 2000 to 2009, we gathered a study cohort consisting of 6979 newly diagnosed cases of dysphagia from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. For the control group, another 20,937 individuals without dysphagia were matched for age, sex, and comorbidity. The two cohorts were followed-up to observe the occurrence of AP and correlated mortality.

Results

During an average of 3.88 ± 2.73 years of follow-up, we observed 315 cases of new AP [non-dysphagia (193, 0.92%) vs. dysphagia (122, 1.75%), p < 0.0001], and the incidence of AP was significant in the dysphagia group. After adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidity, dysphagia-related AP [hazard ratio (HR) 2.499; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.089-2.99; p < 0.0001], dysphagia related mortality [HR 3.229; 95% CI, 3.052-3.417; p < 0.0001], and many other systemic diseases were independently associated with a diagnosis of AP.

Conclusion

Dysphagia was highly associated with an increased risk of AP according to data derived from a large nationwide cohort database. Nonetheless, larger prospective studies or meta-analyses are recommended to confirm our findings.

Dysphagia diagnosis with questionnaire, tongue strength measurement, and FEES in patients with childhood-onset muscular dystrophy

INTRODUCTION

Dysphagia in progressive muscle diseases is primarily due to muscle weakness. Objective of our study is to investigate the prevalence and phenotypes of dysphagia in patients with childhood onset muscular dystrophy (MD) with the use of a validated questionnaire, the measurement of tongue strength and Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES).

METHODS

Prospective observational longitudinal study of dysphagia in a cohort of 58 patients attending the Pediatric Department Center for Neuromuscular Diseases. Control participants were 56 age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Dysphagia was evaluated with the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10), and the measurement of Maximal Isometric Tongue Pressure (MITP) and tongue endurance (Iowa Oral Performance Instrument-IOPI). Dysphagic patients were submitted to FEES. Recorded data included demographic and anthropometric characteristics, type of MD, feeding status, and spirometry.

RESULTS

Our patients' cohort consisted of 41 children, 11 adolescents, and 6 adults. Based on EAT-10, 20.7% of the patients were dysphagic: 14.63% of children, 27.3% of adolescents and 50% of adults. The main complain was solid food dysphagia. Spirometry parameters mean values for children and adolescent patients corresponded to lower than the fifth percentile. Means of FVC and FEV1 expressed as % predicted for adult patients were 27.8 (SD:25.05) and 28.8 (SD:28.44) respectively. Reduced tongue strength was measured to children aged 9-10, adolescent and adult MD patients. The main FEES findings were pharyngeal residue, spillage of food before the swallow, and supraglottal penetration.

DISCUSSION

This is the first study to use a validated questionnaire to evaluate dysphagia in childhood onset MD and report dyphagia prevalence at different patients' age. This is the first study reporting MITP in children and adults with generalised MD. Tongue pressures are reduced well before clinical signs of dysphagia are present.

CONCLUSION

Screening of potentially dysphagic MD patients can be based on a validated questionnaire. Patients with an EAT-10 score suggestive of dysphagia at regular follow-up can have the MITP measured and in the case of reduced values a thorough dysphagia evaluation with FEES is indicated.

Screening and evaluation tools of dysphagia in adults with neuromuscular diseases: a systematic review

Background:

The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the different dysphagia screening and evaluation tools, and to identify their measurement properties in adults with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs).

Methods:

A systematic review was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search strategy was conducted across three databases (PubMed, CINAHL and ScienceDirect). Measurement properties of each tools and the Quality Index, developed by Downs and Black, were considered for the different investigated studies.

Results:

The search strategy produced 2221 articles. After removal of duplicates and full-text analysis, 19 studies were included. Most of the publications focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; n = 10) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD; n = 4). A total of 12 tools, listed as instrumental and noninstrumental examinations, were retrieved. A total of five of them used videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS). Measurement properties of the tools are not completely described in detail in many studies. The neuromuscular disease swallowing status scale, a noninstrumental tool, is the only one that assessed all measurement properties in ALS patients. The median score reported for the Quality Index was 16.

Conclusions:

This systematic review identified 12 different tools for the screening and evaluation of dysphagia in adults with NMD. Majority of the studies presented VFSS as a valid and reliable examination to assess dysphagia in ALS and DMD. Other tools were mainly evaluated in ALS patients, but further studies are needed to complete their measurement properties. In other NMDs, no firm conclusion can be made because of insufficient data and heterogeneity of NMDs.

Psychometrics of the Functional Oral Intake Scale for Infants

This study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) for infants. Infants (age, <1 year) who underwent a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were included in this retrospective study. Their nutrition records at the time of the VFSS were separately evaluated by two raters using the five-point FOIS for infants. Categorical swallowing and aspiration impairment scale data were also obtained from the VFSS. The inter-rater reliability of the FOIS for infants was high (95.5% absolute agreement) among the 201 evaluated infants, and this scale was significantly correlated with aspiration severity in the VFSS. We also investigated whether infants with partial oral feeding (POF) at the FOIS evaluation had achieved full oral feeding within 1 year of the evaluation and used this information to estimate whether the caloric contribution, as well as consistency of oral feeding, affected the feeding outcomes. This analysis included 33 infants who were receiving both oral and tube feeding (i.e., POF). Among them, 26 infants achieved full oral feeding (FOF) without tube feeding after 1 year. Their initial contribution from oral feeding was higher than that in infants who still maintained POF after 1 year (28.46 ± 22.79 vs. 6.00 ± 5.45%, p < 0.001). The five-point FOIS for infants, which reflected the expansion of their oral diet with growth, had adequate reliability and validity. The caloric contribution as well as consistency of oral feeding could be used to distinguish FOIS levels 2 and 3, which correspond to the POF status in infants.

Comparison of Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study and Radionuclide Salivagram for Aspiration Pneumonia in Children With Swallowing Difficulty

Objective

To determine whether the use of both videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and radionuclide salivagram was beneficial for detecting aspiration-induced pneumonia in children with swallowing difficulty.

Methods

From 2001 to 2016, children who underwent both VFSS and salivagram consecutively for suspected aspiration or dysphagia were included in the study. Demographic data, findings of VFSS and salivagram, and medical records were reviewed.

Results

Aspiration pneumonia (AP) was present in 34 out of 110 children; 48 showed positive aspiration findings in VFSS and 33 showed positive aspiration findings in salivagram. Among the 62 children who were negative of aspiration in VFSS, 12 (19.4%) showed positive aspiration findings in salivagram. Four out of 12 children were diagnosed with AP. The aspiration findings in both VFSS and salivagram were significantly related to AP. However, the aspiration findings in the two tests were weakly consistent. Even if one test showed negative aspiration, it was helpful to additionally detect AP using another test, which showed positive aspiration finding. If aspiration findings were positive in only one of the two tests, the probability of AP was 38.5%, whereas if they were positive in both tests, the probability increased to 66.7%. If the aspiration findings were negative in both tests, AP did not occur with a probability of 90%.

Conclusion

Salivagram is a valuable tool for monitoring of aspiration in children with swallowing difficulties. It could be helpful in assessment of children at a high risk of AP, even if the VFSS showed negative aspiration findings. Thus, testing for AP using both VFSS and salivagram is desirable.