Effect of Treatment after Stimulation of Suprahyoid Muscle in Geriatric Patients with Pharyngeal Dysphagia

Electrical stimulation is recently rising as a treatment protocol of dysphagia. The mechanism is known to induce the pharyngeal reflex to stimulate the sensory nerve around the neck. However, elevation of the hyoid and pharynx to stimulate the suprahyoid muscles (esp. mylohyoid muscle) is thought to be more beneficial. We presented 3 cases to improve the dysphagia after stimulation of the suprahyoid muscles to elevate the hyoid and pharynx similar to the normal swallowing during 4 weeks.