Dysarthria and dysphagia are highly prevalent among various types of neuromuscular diseases. (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Knuijt, Simone; Kalf, Johanna G.; de Swart, Bert J. M.; Drost, Gea; Hendricks, Henk T.; Geurts, Alexander C. H.; van Engelen, Baziel G. M.
• Is Part Of: Disability and rehabilitation. Volume 36:Number 15(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1285
• Page End: 1289
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: People with disabilities -- Periodicals; Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 617.03
• DOI: 10.3109/09638288.2013.845255
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-8288

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Purpose</italic>: Patients with a neuromuscular disease (NMD) can present with dysarthria and/or dysphagia. Literature regarding prevalence rates of dysarthria and dysphagia is scarce. The purpose of this study was to determine prevalence rates, severity and co-presence of dysarthria and dysphagia in adult patients with NMD. <italic>Method</italic>: Two groups of adult patients with NMD were included: 102 consecutive outpatients (the "unselected cohort") and 118 consecutive patients who were referred for multidisciplinary assessment (the "selected cohort"). An experienced speech-language pathologist examined each patient in detail. <italic>Results</italic>: The pooled prevalence of dysarthria was 46% (95% CI: 36.5–55.9) and 62% (95% CI: 53.3–70.8) in the unselected and selected cohorts, respectively. The pooled prevalence of dysphagia was 36% (95% CI: 27.1–45.7) and 58% (95% CI: 49.4–67.2) in the unselected and selected cohorts, respectively. There was a modest but significant association between the presence of dysarthria and dysphagia (<italic>r</italic><sub>s</sub> = 0.40; <italic>p</italic> < 0.01). Although the dysphagia was generally mild, dysarthria was moderate to severe in 15% of the dysarthric patients. <italic>Conclusion</italic>: The prevalence rates of dysarthria and dysphagia among patients with various types of NMD are high. Physicians should therefore be aware of this prevalence and consider referring NMD patients to a speech-language pathologist.</p> <list list-type="bullet"> <title>Implicatons of Rehabilitation</title> <list-item> <p>Both dysarthria and dysphagia are highly prevalent among patients with neuromuscular diseases; moreover, although often mild, these disorders can occur relatively early in the course of the disease.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Clinicians should routinely check for signs and symptoms related to dysarthria and/or dysphagia in patients who present with a neuromuscular disease, preferably using standardised instruments.</p> </list-item> </list> </abstract>