Buccal and lingual activity during mastication and swallowing in typical adults.

A non-invasive protocol was developed to assess tongue and cheek movements during mastication and to evaluate the temporal relationship between mastication and the initiation of pharyngeal swallowing. Typical adults (three males and three females) were monitored during chewing. Miniature pressure transducers were bonded unilaterally to the buccal and lingual surfaces of the first mandibular molar and the buccal surface of the first maxillary molar on each subject's preferred chewing side. Surface electromyography of the ipsilateral masseter muscle was recorded as an indicator of jaw-closing activity. Pressure and electromyography (EMG) recordings were time-linked to simultaneous B-mode ultrasound imaging of the oral cavity using a submental, coronal view aligned with the first mandibular molar. The intervals between peak pressure recorded at each pressure transducer and peak jaw-closing activity for each masticatory cycle were not statistically different [analysis of variance (anova), P=0.9856] and displayed large statistical variation. These intervals were not different at the beginning of the trials (hard biscuit) than they were at the completion of mastication when the cookie had been broken down to a paste/puree consistency bolus. The interval between the last chewing stroke and the initiation of swallowing was 0.92 +/- 0.34 s). No significant difference existed among subjects for this time interval (anova, P=0.382).

Dental care for children fed by tube: a critical review.

No guidelines for the oral care of children fed by tube have been published. Poor oral health (unrestored caries lesions, poor oral hygiene, dependence for oral care) and tube-feeding are associated with the development of aspiration pneumonia. Children fed by tube have abundant calculus, and low caries activity. The potential for dental erosion related to gastro-esophageal reflux and oral hypersensitivity is high. To optimize oral health and reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia, this population should receive dental care at more frequent intervals than children fed orally. Modifications to dental procedures are suggested to minimize the risks associated with dental treatment. Evidence-based treatment guidelines are indicated to optimize dental care for children fed by tube.

Durational aspects of oral swallow in neurologically normal children and children with cerebral palsy: an ultrasound investigation.

Little data exist on the oral management of food boluses in neurologically normal children or children with cerebral palsy (CP). Twenty children with spastic CP and 20 neurologically normal children (age range: 6.2-12.9 years) were monitored with ultrasound imaging of the oral cavity during liquid and solid bolus tasks. A lip-cup contact detector synchronized to ultrasound image output was used during liquid tasks. Data collected from recorded ultrasound images were used to assess durational aspects of the oral phase of swallowing in neurologically normal children and children with CP. Coordinated analysis of ultrasound images with lip-cup contact data allowed timing of intervals in the pre-oral and oral phases of swallowing during liquid feeding tasks. Children with CP required more time than neurologically normal children for collection, preparation, oral transit, and total oral swallow time for 5-ml liquid boluses. Total oral swallow time was longer for solid bolus tasks in children with CP. Oral transit time for solid boluses was significantly longer than for liquid boluses in neurologically normal children and children with CP.

Swallowing/ventilation interactions during oral swallow in normal children and children with cerebral palsy.

Many children with cerebral palsy (CP) suffer from feeding disorders. Twenty children with spastic CP and 20 neurologically normal children (age range 6.2-12.9 years) were monitored with ultrasound imaging of the oral cavity synchronized with surface electromyographic (EMG) recordings of masseter and infrahyoid muscles and respiratory inductance plethysmograph (RIP) recordings during feeding tasks. A lip-cup contact detector signaled contact of the drinking cup on the lip during liquid tasks. Children with CP required more time than normals for collection and organization of 5 ml and 75 ml liquid boluses for swallowing. The ventilatory preparation phase, recovery to baseline resting ventilatory pattern after swallowing, and total time for task completion were longer in children with CP for 5-ml and 75-ml tasks. The interval from lip-cup contact until alteration of ventilation from baseline resting ventilatory pattern was longer for children with CP during 75-ml tasks but not for 5-ml tasks. The interval from completion of the task-related cookie swallow until initiation of the next swallow was longer in children with CP than in normal children. These data provide evidence that children with CP manage solid boluses more easily than liquid boluses and small liquid boluses more easily than large liquid boluses. This investigation statistically confirms empirically based recommendations that children with CP be allowed more time to complete feeding tasks and consume small volume drinks rather than large volume drinks.

Correlation of ultrasound imaging of oral swallow with ventilatory alterations in cerebral palsied and normal children: preliminary observations.

Preliminary results of an investigation that synchronizes the videotaped output of ultrasound camera and the analog data from physiological measurements of swallowing and ventilation in normal and cerebral palsied (CP) children are presented. Four cerebral palsied children and three control children undertook a single sip-swallow of 5 ml of liquid and a solid mastication-swallow sequence on three occasions according to a defined protocol. The CP children exhibited much more variability and less control of the liquid bolus than did the controls. The ultrasound image clearly demonstrates the lack of control of the posterior of the tongue in many CP children. Some parts of the sequence of oral swallow and the time to achieve maximum anterior displacement of the hyoid bone appear to be slowed. The sequential events of swallowing show less variability as the sip-swallow proceeds from the oral voluntary to pharyngeal and lower involuntary phases. This study also identified a short-latency apnea that appears to accompany a saliva (protective) swallow and a long-latency apnea that accompanies semi-solid or liquid bolus (alimentary) swallows. Further investigations of normal and CP children utilizing a combined diagnostic imaging-physiological measurement approach will follow this initial study.