Multi-site Vibration Signal Analysis for Estimating Post-Swallow Residue: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Swallowing Physiology

Background:

• Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, affects many patients, increasing aspiration risk.
• Accurate detection of post-swallow residue is crucial for managing dysphagia.
• Current detection methods can be invasive or inaccessible.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate multi-site acoustic signal analysis for detecting post-swallow residue.
• To identify optimal sensor locations and acoustic parameters for residue detection.
• To assess the feasibility of noninvasive dysphagia screening.

Main Methods:

• Three contact microphone sensors and one audio recorder were placed at four anatomical sites.
• Acoustic parameters (HNR, jitter, shimmer, etc.) were analyzed during swallowing tasks.
• Videofluoroscopic swallowing studies served as the reference standard.

Main Results:

• Pre-swallow and post-yogurt swallowing states provided reliable acoustic indicators.
• The right-lateral vallecular sinus sensor location showed the highest accuracy.
• High HNR values were paradoxically linked to the presence of residue.

Conclusions:

• Multi-site acoustic analysis, especially HNR from the vallecular sinus, may detect post-swallow residue noninvasively.
• A single-sensor approach using the vallecular sensor may be feasible.
• Larger studies are needed to validate findings and assess real-time screening potential.