Speech and swallowing dysfunction in multisystem atrophy

Speech and swallowing functioning was assessed in 10 patients diagnosed as having the degenerative disease multisystem atrophy (MSA). Swallowing was assessed using clinical and radiographic examinations. The results showed that three of the 10 subjects were aspirating. The aspiration was silent and therefore not evident on clinical swallowing assessment, although there were indications of laryngeal dysfunction. The remaining subjects all had some degree of swallowing dysfunction and presented with at least a mild dysarthria. This suggests that any MSA patient presenting with even mild dysarthria should have a detailed swallowing assessment. The role of the speech therapist in the multidisciplinary management of patients with MSA is discussed.