Article

Dysarthria and dysphagia are the most common clinical problems
encountered in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and may reduce the quality of life.
OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the association of dysarthria and dysphagia and to evaluate
the impact of dysphagia on swallowing quality of life in patients with ALS with
spinal onset. METHODS: Seventeen patients underwent to speech and swallowing
evaluation and filled out self-report assessment of the Swallowing Quality of
Life (SWAL-QOL). The dysarthria severity was graded using the Speech Subscale of
ALS Severity Scale. The dysphagia severity was graded using a scale proposed by
Dziweas et al., and the Functional Oral Intake Scale. RESULTS: Over 70% of the
ALS patients with spinal onset had dysarthria and dysphagia. The correlation of
dysarthria and dysphagia scales was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The
correlation between dysarthria and dysphagia severity and SWAL-QOL outcomes was
significant for the same domains: "symptom frequency", "communication" and "fear
of eating". The SWAL-QOL domains presented a mild to moderate impact on quality
of life. Disease duration did not impact on SWAL-QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Dysarthria and
dysphagia were common symptoms in patients with spinal onset of ALS and the
swallowing quality of life decrease was directly related to with severity of
dysarthria and dysphagia.

Langue : ANGLAIS