Training Swallowing Initiation During Expiration: Impact on Safety and Efficiency Following Treatment for Oropharyngeal Head and Neck Cancer
Northwestern University
Summary
Head and neck cancers have escalated to epidemic levels in the United States, and survivors are suffering from life-long, devastating swallowing disorders with limited therapeutic options. This clinical trial investigates a novel swallowing treatment that trains initiation of swallowing during the expiratory phase of respiration to improve swallowing safety and efficiency.
Description
Head and neck cancers (HNC) have increased to epidemic levels in the United States. Despite good response to cancer treatment, survivors are suffering life-long toxicities that result in swallowing problems (dysphagia). Treatment options for dysphagia after HNC are extremely limited, focus on swallowing movements alone, and do not consider the importance of respiratory-swallow phase patterning. Prior evidence has demonstrated that when aberrant respiratory-swallow phase patterning is present (initiation of swallowing during inspiration) in patients with HNC, there is a higher occurrence of swa…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of primary head and neck cancer * Three or more months post-completion of first-line cancer treatment * English speaking * Functional/corrected visual and hearing acuity * No current alcohol or other drug abuse * Without very severe (forced expiratory volume; FEV) 1 \<30% predicted) stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) based on Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) * No skin allergy to the medical-grade sensor adhesive * Tolerate wearing the sensor for at least 10 hours/day * Tolerate some liquid oral intake on a routine basis * Normal dexterity to sel…
Interventions
- BehavioralRespiratory-Swallow Phase Training
Participants will complete 6 respiratory-swallow phase training sessions that will last approximately one hour.
- OtherSwallow Practice
Participants will complete 6 "swallow practice" sessions that will last approximately one hour.
Locations (2)
- Northwestern Memorial HospitalChicago, Illinois
- Northwestern UniversityEvanston, Illinois