The evaluation of swallowing in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia and oropharyngeal dysphagia: a comparison study of videofluoroscopic and sonar doppler

INTRODUCTION: Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a degenerative disease that can cause loss of coordination of voluntary muscle movement such as that required for swallowing. AIMS: The purposes of this cross-sectional and comparative case study were: (1) to assess the severity of dysphagia through a videofluoroscopic swallow study, and (2) to compare differences in frequency, intensity, and duration of sound waves produced during swallowing in normal and SCA patients by using sonar Doppler. METHOD: During swallow evaluation using videofluoroscopy, a sonar Doppler transducer was placed on the righ...