A PILOT EXPLORATORY-STUDY OF ORAL ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION ON SWALLOW FUNCTION FOLLOWING STROKE - AN INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUE

This pilot study investigated the effect of oral electrical stimulatio n on swallow function in stroke patients with chronic dysphagia. The p urpose was to determine whether an innovative technique could make an improvement in swallow function that might be developed as a potential treatment for patients with persistent dysphagia, Four stroke patient s with chronic dysphagia were recruited on the basis of videofluorosco pic findings of a delayed swallow reflex, A single case design was use d, Oral electrical stimulation of swallowing was carried out using a p alatal prosthesis starting at an output pulse of 0.5 mA, with a fixed duration of 200 mu sec, repeated at 1-sec intervals, Barium paste (1 x 5 ml) was introduced at the level of the patient's maximum tolerance of stimulation and any effect on swallow function was recorded by vide ofluoroscopy. The findings from the pilot study indicated that oral el ectrical stimulation resulted in an improvement in swallow function in 2 of the 4 patients. The stimulation was well tolerated in all cases with no serious adverse effects, These early results are promising, bu t further research is needed.