Examining the Efficacy of Long-Term versus Short-term intervention and that randomized the participants Individual Swallowing Therapy to Improve Optimal Swallowing Physiology in Geriatric Individuals with Dysphagia

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of short-term (6 weeks) and long-term (12 weeks) individual swallowing therapy program in geriatric individuals diagnosed with dysphagia through instrumental evaluation. Method: 127 participants with a mean age of 66.82�16.39 (min=66, max=83) were included in the study. At the beginning of the study, the recordings of the Videofluoroscopy Swallow Study / Modified barium swallow study were scanned and examined, and those with the same dysphagia severity finding who had problems in swallowing safety and efficiency were determined. Patients were randomly assigned to either a short-term intervention group (six weeks; n=62, 48.8%,) or a long-term intervention group (12 weeks; n=65, 51.2%). During Videofluoroscopy, patients were scored with the Penetration-Aspiration Scale by giving food in different consistencies (thin liquid, honey, nectar, pudding, solid consistency) according to the International Dysphagia Dietary Standardization Initiative protocol. Functional Oral Intake Scale and Turkish Eating Assessment Tool results were compared between the groups receiving long-term and short-term swallowing therapy. An exercise-based individual swallowing therapy program was applied to both groups. Results: Penetration aspiration score was higher in the short-term therapy group than in the long-term group. There was a significant difference between the post-therapy penetration aspiration scores of individuals who received long-term and short-term therapy (p<0.001). Pharyngeal phase abnormalities were detected in 81 patients (88.4%), and laryngeal penetration/aspiration status was found in 78 patients (85.3%). Both variables were found to be significantly higher in the short-term group (p:0.015; p:0.014). Turkish eating assessment tool scores were found to be 21.51�3.84 in the long-term group after therapy (p<0.05). Silent aspiration of thin liquid and nectar consistency was experienced in 69% of the patients before the therapy. Conclusion: Long-term swallowing therapy program was proved to be more effective than short-term in geriatric individuals with dysphagia.