Comparison of Two Therapies for UES Dysphagia

Secondary aims of this research are:

1. Determine in a descriptive manner whether patients with residue in the pyriform sinuses who aspirate the residue after the swallow respond better, i.e., a higher percentage of them can return to 100% oral intake, than patients with residue in the valleculae who aspirate after the swallow or patients with residue in both locations who aspirate after the swallow and thus to define the spectrum of indications for the proposed exercise programs in the two groups of dysphagic patients (stroke and post-chemo radiation treatment for head and neck cancer) and whether postures enable each patient type to swallow more bolus types without aspiration at pre- and post

2. Define the pathophysiology underlying the swallow dysfunction and those pathophysiologic elements which change as a result of each therapy program including changes in -

3. anteroposterior and lateral diameter of maximum deglutitive UES opening

4. maximum deglutitive laryngeal anterior and superior excursions