Kinematic analysis of laryngeal movements in patients with neurogenic dysphagia before and after swallowing rehabilitation

To examine whether kinematic analysis of laryngeal movements (which are clo sely linked to pharyngeal swallowing) can differentiate between normal and disturbed swallowing, we used a three-dimensional ultrasound movement recor ding system to measure the movements of the larynx during swallowing in 32 patients with neurogenic dysphagia caused by central nervous system lesions and in 32 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. At the beginning of an inpatient re habilitation swallowing program, laryngeal movements in 24 pa tients were highly disturbed in terms of velocity curve irregularities. Aft er rehabilitation, the majority of patients with hitherto irregular velocit y profiles exhibited laryngeal kinematics that were indistinguishable from those of 32 healthy subjects. Kinematic analysis of laryngeal movements, th erefore, is suitable for monitoring motor recovery of swallowing disturbanc es in patients with neurogenic dysphagia while undergoing swallowing rehabi litation.