A Scoping Review of Post-Stroke Dysphagia: Evaluation and Interventions

This article summarizes the complexities of swallow function with a focus on neuroanatomy of the swallow and approaches to swallow evaluation and treatment interventions for patients with stroke.

Multiple advances have been made in the available techniques for evaluating and treating swallow function after stroke. Once the underlying etiology of dysphagia and physiologic deficits are more specifically identified, targeted, individualized treatment strategies can be implemented. Here we synthesize the body of literature related to evaluation and treatment of stroke-related dysphagia.

The most effective interventions to expedite swallow recovery after stroke involve formal evaluation utilizing instrumental swallowing assessments and targeted treatment approaches to address the specific underlying disruption of impairment.