Measurement of laryngeal elevation time using a flexible surface stretch sensor

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Dysphagia is a significant and growing health concern in aging populations, affecting approximately 16% of community-dwelling elderly individuals.
• There is a critical need for systematic dysphagia assessment tools tailored for elderly communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of measuring laryngeal elevation during the pharyngeal phase of swallowing using thin, flexible stretch sensors placed on the neck's surface.
• To validate the accuracy of stretch sensor measurements against established videofluorography techniques.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-two elderly participants (mean age 89.2 years) with suspected dysphagia were enrolled.
• Seven stretch sensors were attached to the anterior neck, and their elongation was recorded during swallowing examinations.
• Sensor-derived laryngeal elevation start time, descent conclusion, and duration were compared with videofluorography (VFG) data using the Bland-Altman method.

Main Results:

• Laryngeal elevation time measured by stretch sensors was 1.34 ± 0.46 seconds, closely aligning with VFG measurements of 1.49 ± 0.56 seconds.
• A significant positive correlation (r = 0.69, P < .0001) was observed between the two measurement methods.
• A statistically significant bias of -0.15 seconds was noted for VFG compared to sensor measurements (P = 0.046).

Conclusions:

• Laryngeal elevation time can be reliably and non-invasively measured from the neck surface using stretch sensors.
• This technology presents a promising, accessible method for dysphagia assessment in the elderly.