The Influence of Cough Reflex Testing on Patient Management.

Purpose: Cough reflex testing (CRT) is an adjunct to the clinical swallowing evaluation (CSE), providing information on patients' risk of silent aspiration. CRT has been shown to influence diet recommendations, but in previous work, the many varied patient characteristics are not controlled. Therefore, the specific role of CRT results in these decisions remains unclear as this relationship has not been directly assessed.

How Much Does Dysphagia Cost? Understanding the Additional Costs of Dysphagia for New Zealand in Patients Hospitalised with Stroke.

Introduction: Dysphagia (i.e., disordered swallowing) is a consequence of stroke.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation alters cough sensitivity depending on stimulation parameters: potential implications for aspiration risk.

Background: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is considered a safe and promising tool for limb rehabilitation after stroke, but its effect on cough has never been studied. It is known that the ear and larynx share vagal afferent pathways, suggesting that stimulating the ear with taVNS might have effects on cough sensitivity. The specific stimulation parameters used can influence outcomes.

Estimating the Incidence and Prevalence of Dysphagia in New Zealand.

Dysphagia imposes a substantial economic burden on global healthcare systems due to its pervasive, high-cost nature. To comprehend this burden, we must first assess dysphagia's prevalence and incidence in the general population. Existing studies on dysphagia prevalence encompass minor symptoms, while it is the severe cases that drive significant healthcare costs.