Pharmacological Aspects and Neurological Speech Therapy: Target of Dysphony, Dysarthria and Dysphagia

Abstract

The word dysphagy was suggested by Nicolatopoulos (1907) and derives from the ancient Greek “δυς”, which means “difficulty” and “καταπινειν”, which means “to swallow”. Generally, the dysphagy is defined on the basis of its origin: oral, pharynx and oesophagus, otherwise by its mechanical or neurological aetiology. The symptoms are dependent on the nature of the lesions in the affected organs. The swallow is a complex motor sequence dependent on the coordinate contraction of the muscle of mouth, of larynx and of the oesophagus. The mechanical action of the swallow helps the liquid or solid food progression from mouth to stomach thanks to cooperation of 31 muscles and 5 cranial nerves and allows swallowing about 580 times approximately. The dysphagy in neurological diseases is mainly due to the following reasons. Increase of vascular cerebro-disease, increase of population's age and increase of road and work traumas. The difficulties in swallowing causes heavy social problems like meager diet, social isolation and worsening of quality of life. The speech rehabilitation requires the involvement of care givers through a re-educational program that takes place in two periods: the first of relaxation, and the second of restoration of phonodeglutition praxis.

Neurogenic dysphagia in traditional Chinese medicine

“…Dysphagia is a fatal symptom, which affects patient's health, quality of life, and nutritional status. In recognition of dysphagia in western medical history, the word “dysphagy” derives from ancient Greek and was first suggested by Nicolatopoulos in 1907 (Megna et al, 2012). The earliest record related to dysphagia could be traced back to the anatomic and physiologic studies of larynx by Galenos (AD 129–199) (Feldmann, 2001).…”

“…Dysphagia is a fatal symptom, which affects patient's health, quality of life, and nutritional status. In recognition of dysphagia in western medical history, the word "dysphagy" derives from ancient Greek and was first suggested by Nicolatopoulos in 1907(Megna et al, 2012. The earliest record related to dysphagia could be traced back to the anatomic and physiologic studies of larynx by Galenos (AD 129-199) (Feldmann, 2001).In comparison with western medicine history, records on dysphagia have been detected in thousand-year's history of traditional Chinese medicine, which could be traced back to Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic, the first Chinese medical classic completed during Warring…”