Maximum lingual pressure impacts both swallowing safety and efficiency in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Raele Donetha Robison; Lauren DiBiase; Amber Anderson; James P Wymer; Emily K Plowman

doi:10.1111/nmo.14521

Maximum lingual pressure impacts both swallowing safety and efficiency in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2023 Apr;35(4):e14521. doi: 10.1111/nmo.14521. Epub 2022 Dec 26.

Authors

Raele Donetha Robison^{1

2

3}, Lauren DiBiase¹, Amber Anderson¹, James P Wymer⁴, Emily K Plowman^{1

4

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Aerodigestive Research Core, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
² Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
³ Center for Health Disparities Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
⁴ Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
⁵ Speech, Language and Hearing Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
⁶ Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Abstract

Background: Although reduced lingual strength is a confirmed early manifestation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), its functional impact on swallowing remains unclear. We therefore sought to examine relationships between maximum anterior isometric lingual pressure (MAIP) with swallowing safety, swallowing efficiency, and swallowing timing metrics in a large cohort of individuals with ALS.

Methods: Ninety-seven participants with ALS completed a standardized videofluoroscopic swallowing examination (VF) and lingual pressure testing (Iowa Oral Performance Instrument). Duplicate and blinded ratings of the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) and Analysis of Swallowing Physiology: Events, Kinematics and Timing (ASPEKT) percent efficiency (%C2-C4² ) and timing (laryngeal vestibule closure (LVC) duration: amount of time (milliseconds, msec) between LVC onset and laryngeal vestibule opening; time-to-LVC: hyoid burst to onset of LVC (msec); and swallow reaction time: interval between bolus passing ramus of mandible and onset of LVC (msec)) were performed across bolus trials. Swallowing safety (safe PAS: 1, 2, 4; unsafe PAS: 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8) and efficiency (inefficient: ≥3% worst total residue) were derived. Statistical analyses including descriptives, binary logistic regressions, and Spearman's rho correlations were performed (α = 0.05).

Key results: Mean MAIP was 36.3 kPa (SD: 18.7). Mean MAIP was higher in those with safe swallowing as compared to those who penetrated (mean difference: 12 kPa) or aspirated (mean difference: 18 kPa). Individuals with efficient swallowing demonstrated higher MAIP than those with inefficient swallowing (mean difference: 11 kPa). Binary logistic regression analyses revealed increasing MAIP was significantly associated with a 1.06 (95% CI: 1.03-1.09) and 1.04 (95% CI: 1.01-1.06) greater odds of safe and efficient swallowing, respectively. No relationships were observed between MAIP and swallow reaction time across all bolus trials. Longer time-to-LVC (5 ml thin liquid: r_s = -0.35, p = 0.002; cup sip thin liquid: r_s = -0.26, p = 0.02; moderately thick liquid: r_s = -0.28, p = 0.01) and prolonged LVC duration (cup sip thin liquid, r_s = -0.34, p = 0.003) were associated with lower MAIP.

Conclusions and inferences: Reduced lingual strength was confirmed in this group of 97 individuals with ALS that was associated with a diminished ability to effectively transport boluses and aide in laryngeal vestibule closure to prevent entry of material into the airway.

Keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; deglutition; deglutition disorders; lingual pressure.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* / complications
Deglutition
Deglutition Disorders* / diagnosis
Humans
Larynx*
Tongue

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding