Table 3.
Summary of descriptive statements from TVSS
| All (n=48) |
DLB (n=38) |
PDD (n=10) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Reason for referral, n (%) | |||
| Subjective swallowing difficulties | 32 (67) | 23 (61) | 9 (90) |
| Cough only | 9 (19) | 24 | 0 (0) |
| Unable to straighten neck | 1 (2) | 1 (3) | 0 (0) |
| Excess saliva | 1 (2) | 1 (3) | 0 (0) |
| Clearing throat | 1 (2) | 1 (3) | 0 (0) |
| History of pneumonia | 2 (4) | 1 (3) | 1 (10) |
| No symptoms but other clinical suspicion | 2 (4) | 2 (5) | 0 (0) |
| Swallowing dysfunction confirmed on TVSS, n (%) | 40 (83) | 31 (82) | 9 (90) |
| Type of swallowing dysfunction observed, n (%) | |||
| Oral dysfunction only | 4 (8) | 4 (11) | 0 (0) |
| Pharyngeal dysfunction only | 24 (50) | 19 (50) | 5 (50) |
| Combined oropharyngeal dysfunction | 10 (21) | 7 (18) | 3 (30) |
| Pharyngeal retention | 24 (50) | 19 (50) | 5 (50) |
| Tracheal penetration | 13 (27) | 9 (24) | 4 (40) |
| Improved swallowing with carbonated liquid,* n (%) | 34 (87) | 27 (87) | 7 (88) |
Note:
*
One patient with confirmed swallowing dysfunction not tried on carbonated liquid (n=39).
Abbreviations: TVSS, therapeutic videoradiographic swallowing study; DLB, dementia with Lewy bodies; PDD, Parkinson’s disease dementia.