title: The utility of pitch elevation in the evaluation of oropharyngeal Dysphagia: preliminary findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the utility of a pitch elevation task in the assessment of oropharyngeal dysphagia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a pilot prospective cohort study including 40 consecutive patients (16 male and 24 female) who were referred by their physician for a swallowing evaluation. Patients were evaluated with a noninstrumental clinical examination and a videofluoroscopic swallow study, and participated in a pitch elevation task during videofluoroscopic image acquisition. Relationships between pitch elevation measurements (acoustic and perceptual) and swallow parameters (penetration/aspiration and residue) were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of this pilot study revealed that both maximum fundamental frequency (F(0)) and perceptual evaluation of pitch elevation independently significantly predicted Penetration-Aspiration Scale scores for thin liquid swallows (p = .01 and .03, respectively). Vocal range (average pitch to falsetto) was not sensitive in predicting likelihood of oropharyngeal dysphagia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that reduced pitch elevation can be indicative of reduced airway protection and swallowing impairment in some dysphagia patients and may be a useful supplement to dysphagia screening and diagnosis. Further investigation is warranted to determine the optimal utility of this procedure for different diagnostic categories of patients.
authors.affiliation: William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital,Madison, WI, USA. malandraki@tc.columbia.edu
authors.forename: Georgia A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Malandraki
authors.forename: Jacqueline A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hind
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gangnon
authors.forename: Jeri A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Logemann
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robbins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D007830:Larynx / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010898:Pitch Perception; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013637:Tape Recording / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000502:physiology*