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 closely linked to pharyngeal swallowing) can differentiate between normal and disturbed swallowing, we used a three-dimensional ultrasound movement recording 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 rehabilitation swallowing program, laryngeal movements in 24 patients were highly disturbed in terms of velocity curve irregularities. After rehabilitation, the majority of patients with hitherto irregular velocity profiles exhibited laryngeal kinematics that were indistinguishable from those of 32 healthy subjects. Kinematic analysis of laryngeal movements, therefore, is suitable for monitoring motor recovery of swallowing disturbances in patients with neurogenic dysphagia while undergoing swallowing rehabilitation.