Intensive training of speech and swallowing in adults with a neuromuscular disease

Intelligible speech and easy swallowing of food are essential daily activities. This can be challenging for people with a neuromuscular disease (NMD), because muscle weakness in the face, tongue and throat can lead to problems with speaking or swallowing. 

Treatment

Speech therapy treatment usually focuses on compensating for these problems by, for example, lowering the speaking rate or adjusting diet. Because compensations only work temporarily, muscle training is now also used for muscle diseases, but it is not known whether intensive training of speaking and swallowing is also useful. 

Aim

The Radboudumc centre of expertise for neuromuscular disorders with the involvement of ‘Spierziekten Netherland’ (Dutch muscle society) wants to investigate this in 50 people with NMD, who will receive intensive training for 2 months with light training for 10 months. For the results, we will evaluate maintenance of intelligibility and swallowing as well as muscle quality.