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How do we Swallow?
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Electrical Stimulation Therapy
VitalStim Therapy
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E-Stim Resolves Swallowing Disorder

Marcy Freed, the founder of of VitalStim technologies, is a Speech Pathologist at Rainbow and Babies Children's Hospital. FDA approval of this new technology followed a study done by Freed called the The Electrical Stimulation Treatment Program at Rainbow. According to Freed’s study, estim therapy was 97% successful in improving or restoring a patients ability to appropriately and adequately swallow, following 10 one-hour electrical stimulation treatments. This study was published in the May 2001 issue of Respiratory Care, eventually leading to the 2001 FDA approval of an electrical stimulation device. ( Freed, n.d.)

Electrical Stimulation Study

Supports Effectiveness

A recent study compared the use of the conventional approach of thermal-tactile stimulation (TS), and electrical stimulation therapy (ES). Stroke patients, with swallowing disorders, of similar age and gender, were assigned to one of the two treatment groups. The TS therapy consisted of emerging the metal probe in ice and applying it to the anterior facial arch, while the ES group had electrical stimulation, applied through a pair of electrodes, positioned on the neck. The daily treatments lasted one hour, and were based on the substances a patient could swallow during an MBS. Both treatment groups improved on swallowing scores, however the ES treatment group had a better final swallow score and 98% of the patients showed improvement. Consequently, 27% of TS patients remained at initial swallow, score and 11% regressed ("E-Stim Resolves Swallowing Disorders," n.d.).

Universities Take Interest

A study was conducted at the South Manchester University Hospital NHS Trust, in the United kingdom. The study researched the affects of oral electrical stimulation on stroke patients who presented with chronic dysphagia, in hopes of using this innovative technique for therapeutic purposes. A palatal prosthesis was used, then a barium past was introduced, and the swallow was recorded via videofluorscopy. The results were promising, improving swallowing function in half of the patients (Park, O’Neil, Martin, 2001).