title: Occurrence of communication and swallowing problems in neurological disorders: analysis of forty patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Communication and swallowing problems are common as a result of neurological conditions like stroke, traumatic brain injury, neoplasms of the nervous systems, viral encephalitis, diseases affecting neuromuscular junction and neuro degenerative conditions. The most frequently encountered problems are dysarthria, aphasia, dysphagia and apraxia of speech.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Although these disorders are mentioned in literature, very few studies describing the occurrence in different neurological conditions are available in Indian context. Hence, a need was felt to carry out such a study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A heterogenous group of forty patients with neurological conditions were assessed for presence of speech, language and swallowing problems. A percent analysis was carried out to determine the occurrence of aphasia, dysarthria and dysphagia in general, in specific diseases and also to describe type of aphasia and dysarthria according to the characteristics presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was seen that the most frequently occurring disorder was dysarthria (60%), followed by dysphagia (55%) and aphasia (18%). It was also noted that dysarthria and dysphagia co-existed in around 45% patients with neurological diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that speech, language and swallowing problems are frequent in individuals with neurological conditions. Speech language pathologist plays an important role as a member of the rehabilitation team in a neurological setup with respect to identifying these problems and initiating intervention at the earliest. Hence, it is necessary for speech language pathologist to be well versed with the features each disorder may present with in terms of communication and swallowing.
authors.affiliation: Himgiri Apartments, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Mansi Pankaj
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jani
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology and Speech Therapy, B.Y.L. Nair Hospital, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Geeta Bharat
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Gore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001037:Aphasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Neurological disorders; aphasia; dysarthria; dysphagia; speech language pathologist