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Oropharyngeal Stimulation with Air-Pulse Trains Increases Swallowing Frequency in Healthy Adults

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Abstract

This study sought to determine whether air-pulse trains delivered to the peritonsillar area would facilitate swallowing in healthy subjects. Trains of unilateral or bilateral air pulses were delivered to the peritonsillar area via tubing embedded in a dental splint, while swallows were simultaneously identified from their associated laryngeal and respiratory movements. Results from four subjects indicated that oropharyngeal air-pulse stimulation evoked an irrepressible urge to swallow, followed by an overt swallow as verified by laryngeal and respiratory movements. Moreover, air-pulse stimulation was associated with a significant increase in swallowing frequency. Mean latency of swallowing following bilateral stimulation tended to be less than the latency of swallowing following unilateral stimulation. These findings in healthy adults suggest the possibility that oropharyngeal air-pulse stimulation may have clinical utility in dysphagic individuals.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Grant-in-Aid to REM, an Ontario Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology Premier’s Research Excellence Award to REM, and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship to JAT. Illustration by George Moogk of GEM Graphics Incorporated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Doctoral Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario

    Julie A. Theurer MClSc

  2. School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario

    Julie A. Theurer MClSc, Amy M. Barr BMSc & Ruth E. Martin PhD

  3. Clinical Neurological Sciences, EEG Department, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario

    Frank Bihari BSc

  4. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

    Ruth E. Martin PhD

  5. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, Elborn College, Room 2528, London, Ontario, N6G 1H1, Canada

    Ruth E. Martin PhD

Authors
  1. Julie A. Theurer MClSc
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  2. Frank Bihari BSc
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  3. Amy M. Barr BMSc
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  4. Ruth E. Martin PhD
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Correspondence to Ruth E. Martin PhD.

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Theurer, J.A., Bihari, F., Barr, A.M. et al. Oropharyngeal Stimulation with Air-Pulse Trains Increases Swallowing Frequency in Healthy Adults. Dysphagia 20, 254–260 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-005-0021-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-005-0021-1

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