Application of Manual Therapy for Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Preliminary National Survey of Treatment Trends and Adverse Events:

BackgroundRadiation-associated dysphagia is a common and debilitating consequence of treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC). Since commonly employed dysphagia therapy programs for HNC patients still lack authoritative efficacy, some speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have started employing manual therapy (MT) techniques in an attempt to prevent or rehabilitate dysphagia in this patient population. However, exceptionally little is known about the use of MT in this patient population.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to describe practice patterns as well as the rate, type, and severity of adverse events associated with SLP provision of MT to HNC patients.MethodsAn Internet-based questionnaire geared toward SLPs who practice MT was developed and sent to SLPs practicing in the United States, 3 times, through 3 national listservs (American Speech Language Hearing Association [ASHA] Special Interest Division 13, ASHA Special Interest Division 3, and University of Iowa Voiceserv), over the course of 4 w...