Longstanding Effect and Outcome Differences of Palatal Plate and Oral Screen Training on Stroke-Related Dysphagia

Aim: This study aimed at evaluating (1) if the oral training effect on stroke related dysphagia differs between two different oral appliances, a palatal plate (PP) and an oral screen (OS), and (2) if the training effect remains at a late follow-up. Methods: We included patients with stroke-related dysphagia at two different time periods: the first group of 12 patients studied in 1997- 2 002 had to train with a PP, the other one of 14 patients studied in 2003-2008 had to train with an OS. All patients were evaluated by a swallowing capacity test (SCT), and by a self-assessed visual analogue scale (VAS) of water swallowing capacity at entry of the study, after 13 weeks of training, and at a late follow-up. Results: At end of treatment the SCT had normalized in 33% of PP patients and in 71% of OS patients. There was a significant SCT improvement difference between the PP and OS groups in the period from baseline to late follow-up (p < 0.002) in favor of the OS group. VAS as tested at baseline and at end of treatment did not differ significantly between the two groups. Training with PP and with OS produced remaining improvement of SCT and of VAS as assessed at a late follow-up. Conclusion: The outcome of OS training on SCT in patients with stroke-related dysphagia seems to be superior to PP training. The improvement as assessed with VAS did not differ between the two groups. Training with PP or OS gives a longstanding improvement of SCT and VAS.