Swallowing Evaluation in VF Immobility

Besides the voice alteration, the lesion that causes of vocal fold immobility should also affect the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. It was suggested that dysphagia in patient with vocal fold immobility has multifactor causes ; including limited airway protection and decrease laryngopharyngeal sensation based on the finding of the flexible endoscopy. Another study revealed that pharyngeal phase abnormalities such as delayed initiation of swallowing, reduced laryngeal elevation, and reduced upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening were found in video fluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS). Several studies on the swallowing difficulties of patient with vocal fold immobility has been performed and reported that nearly 56% of these patients immobility have swallowing dysfunction.