Respiratory patterns associated with swallowing: Part 2. Neurologically impaired dysphagic patients.

The co-ordination of respiration and swallowing was recorded electronically in three groups of patients who complained of dysphagia following a stroke, or associated with multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease. The test used was simple and the equipment easily taken to the patient, in bed if necessary. All the patients showed differences from normal subjects and there were differences between each of the neurologically impaired groups. The technique appears to allow an assessment of the state of oropharyngeal motor and sensory functions separately during swallowing.