Stress. Anxiety. They are arguably two of the strongest negative experiences that we encounter personally and professionally.  Sadly, we are often left helpless to mitigate the profound deleterious imprint of these emotions if they arise with frequency or become chronic.  Stress and anxiety are often viewed as intangible emotions, disconnected from our physical state of being.  Yet many report “stress” headaches or “anxious” stomachs.  Consider that sharp twinge in your shoulders or neck every time your workload is on the brink of being unmanageable.  Cohen, Kessler and Underwood (1995) define stress as “A process in which environmental demands tax or exceed the adaptive capacity of an organism, resulting in psychological and biological changes that may place persons at risk for disease.” The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the thoroughfare responsible for filtering, processing, reacting to and recovering from stress. It contains two sub-components, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The SNS is traditionally referred to as the “fight or flight” stimulator. It triggers production of adrenaline and speeds up heart rate, allowing our bodies to rapidly react to acute, high stress situations. The PNS, or “rest and digest” system, helps restores a state of calm by reducing heart rate and stimulating our digestive system. A well regulated ANS maintains strong balance of SNS and PNS activity. When our systems are taxed by excess and prolonged stress, this balance is disrupted.   Multiple publications have highlighted the negative impact of elevated SNS activity on GI, Cardiovascular and cognitive integrity. (Lucini et al, 2005)

As speech pathologists, we commonly encounter stress as a persistent triggering mechanism of many common pathologies such as cough, laryngospasm, muscle tension dysphonia and dysphagia. Yet, other than promoting insight and awareness of the correlation, clinicians historically have limited options to formally counteract stress reactivity. Various publications explore this relationship of stress and voice and swallowing ailments. Kim et al investigated the impact of diagnosed anxiety and depression prior to onset of head and neck cancer treatment. They found that individuals with these emotional disorders had significantly lower serum albumin levels, poorer pre-treatment quality of life scores and, astoundingly, reduction in 3-year disease free survival rates.  Magnuson et al found prolonged reliance of PEG tubes and latency in return to baseline diet textures for post-chemoradiation patients.  Stress and anxiety were reported as contributing factors to these lingering symptoms.

Dysphonia has strong roots in stress as well.  Freidl (1990) reported significant correlation of etio-pathogenesis in functional voice disorders with stress and anxiety.  Dietrich (2009) explored the relationships of stress, personality and hyperfunctional voice disorders.  Results indicated that individuals with introverted personalities had a propensity for increased infrahyoid extralaryngeal muscle activity.  They perceived greater vocal effort during speech, and this intensified with stress.

Clearly, stress and anxiety affect the disorders we treat.  So how does heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) fit in as a therapeutic modality?  To answer this question, one must re-examine the relationship that exists among the vagus nerve, stress reactivity and organ function. The central autonomic nervous system is a functional and structural network that integrates cognitive and affective processing with peripheral end organ activity.  Prefrontal, limbic and brain stem regions communicate via the vagus nerve to tonically inhibit sympathetic innervation at rest and recover from stressors. Relentless exposure to stress, paired with high stress reactivity, may promote systemic vagal denervation and reduced vagal tone. The result can resemble a car that uncontrollably accelerates without an effective brake pedal. One may hypothesize that this phenomena, in concert with specific personality profiles, may predispose individuals for voice and swallowing disorders due to heightened levels of muscle tension and generalized hyper-responsiveness.

HRVB is evolving as a complementary modality in treatment of various ailments including depression, pain management and cardiovascular health. (Lehrer et al 2014). HRVB incorporates slow paced breathing with the primary end goal of stimulating maximum parasympathetic nervous system activity. The underlying mechanism lies in cardiorespiratory feedback training that supports and stimulates homeostasis in the baroreceptor (Vaschillo et al.,2002). This assists in recalibration of our autonomic system that allows for greater resilience in managing and processing stress. While the direct impact of HRVB in the management of voice and swallowing disorders lies in its infancy, the promise of improved stress tolerance for enhanced symptom management is enticing.

HRVB assessment requires specialized equipment that measures parameters of respiration, cardiac activity, temperature and skin condensation. It is completely non-invasive and can be easily incorporated within the formal speech pathology assessment period. Specialized protocols allow the clinician to identify the ideal respiratory and cardiac profile that maximizes PNS activity. This pattern is then habituated through a home exercise regimen that is performed daily via a mobile device application. Specialized training in HRVB assessment techniques is required in order to generate clinical proficiency.  This process is minimally cumbersome. Behavioral response to HRVB includes a generalized sensation of calmness which allows clinicians to target desired outcomes, including cough suppression, breathing comfort, readiness for challenging dietary textures and vocal clarity.

Integration of HRVB into our clinical practice was serendipitous.  The technique was introduced to us by a patient, a physician, seeking non-invasive and non-pharmacological resolution of his esophageal dysmotility and dysphonia. He was so impressed by his outcome, he felt compelled to share this therapeutic modality.  We sought training from our psychology colleagues and began infusing HRVB into our practice.  Our referring physicians were intrigued by this adjunctive therapy and suggested a retrospective analysis of HRVB clinical efficacy for hyperfunctional larynges.  Symptoms were treated with HRVB as a complimentary measure to standard treatment.  On average, patients underwent 2.9 sessions of skilled treatment prior to discharge. The majority of patients demonstrated elevated sympathetic nervous system activity during the baseline HRVB assessment.  Patients demonstrated approximately 82% improvement in their systems as measures by behavioral assessments and tangible measures of cough activity. Participants also noted improvements in quality of life and psychological symptoms, such as stress and anxiety. These findings reflect significant improvements as compared to traditional treatment methods.

While the exact mechanisms of symptom improvement are not extractable from this early study, we hypothesized that HRVB restored ANS regulation and reestablished inefficient breathing patterns that may accompany laryngeal hyper-responsiveness. The technique also provided several patients with valuable insight into the relationship between cough behavior and psychological factors. Our clinical practice is currently performing two prospective studies exploring the utility of HRVB as a lone and/or complementary therapeutic modality in the management of chronic cough, dysphagia and generalized distress associated with head and neck cancer.  Our goal is to further substantiate the role of stress reactivity and autonomic dysregulation in both dysphagia and dysphonia by objectively quantifying clinical improvement achieved through daily HRVB performance.

Psychological stress will invariably plague our patients’ daily lives. And we are unable to change personality traits lending to stress vulnerability. Providing patients the ability to override these factors with tangible parasympathetic “exercise” is a viable adjunctive method to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

Cohen, S., Kessler, R. C., & Underwood Gordon, L. (Eds.) (1995).  Measuring stress: A guide for health and social scientist. New York: Oxford

Dietrich, Maria (2009) The effects of stress reactivity on extralaryngeal muscle tension in vocally normal participants as a function of personality. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.

Freidl W¹, Friedrich G, Egger J. (1990). Personality and coping with stress in patients suffering from functional dysphonia. (Article in German).  Folia Phoniatr (Basel). 42(3):144-9.

Gevirtz, R. (2013). The Promise of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback: Evidence-Based Applications. Biofeedback, 41(3), 110-120.

Lehrer, P. M., Vaschillo, E., Vaschillo, B., Lu, S., Scardella, A., Siddique, M., & Habib, R. H. (2004). Biofeedback Treatment for Asthma. Chest, 126(2), 352-361.

Lehrer, P., Vaschillo, E., Lu, S., Eckberg, D., Vaschillo, B., Scardella, A., & Habib, R. (2006). Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback. Chest, 129(2), 278-284.

Lupien, SJ., McEwen, BS., Gunnar, MR., Heim, C., (2009) The effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behavious and cognition. Nat Rev Neurosci. 434-45.

Speech Pathologists in the medical environment spend the vast majority of the day evaluating and treating patients with Dysphagia. While the underlying etiology and presenting symptoms may vary, the therapeutic methodologies embrace overlapping themes. Less commonly, SLP’s are asked to alleviate swallowing difficulties in individuals with no detectable physiologic pathology as evidenced by objective testing. These patients are likely suffering from a rare condition known as phagophobia.

 

Phagophobia is a word that comes from Greek phagein, “eat” and phobos, “fear”. It is a fear of swallowing, expressed in various symptoms without any apparent physical reason detectable by physical inspection and clinical analyses. Other terms used to define this disorder include: functional dysphagia, choking phobia, pseudodysphagia and sitophobia. The most common complaints of the condition include difficulty with swallow initiation, abnormal oral behaviors, repetitive lingual movements, complaints of throat pressure and globus (Barofsky and Fontaine, 1998). The by-product of these symptoms functionally manifest in food/texture avoidance, severe anxiety, weight loss and malnutrition. Phagophobia is registered in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The disorder is more common in females vs. males. Onset can range across the lifespan from childhood to geriatric. While incidence rates are extremely low, many patients are incorrectly diagnosed with this disorder and are later found to have an organic source of symptoms. The need to perform a comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessment is paramount in order to ensure that patients receive a correct diagnosis and restorative plan of care.

 

Some have equated the symptoms of phagophobia with those of a conversion disorder. The premise being that an individual subconsciously transforms psychological conflicts revolving around the act of eating, into somatic symptoms. Researchers have begun to challenge the historic notions of the disorder with clinical studies targeting brain function in these individuals. One study investigated cortical activity in patients suffering from phagophobia. They were able to identify objective changes in brain activity specifically in the insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and the premotor cortex of the R. Hemisphere. These represent the areas of the brain responsible for proprioception and coordination of temporal sequences and volitional oral-phase swallowing behaviors. (Sunstrup, 2014). Another interesting study by Leopold looked at broadening the traditional patterns of swallow sequencing beyond three phases. Their theory was that clinicians should integrate pre-oral and preparatory phases as part of the swallowing continuum. These crucial precursors to swallowing involve complex somatosensory inputs that can translate into altered motor programming. Patients who sustain repetitive negative stimuli/experiences relating to the act of swallowing may develop this complex disorder that manifests as phagophobia. These studies provide clinicians with heightened insight into the complexity of the condition and offer some clear direction regarding treatment. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of clinical efficacy studies highlighting treatment strategies to rehabilitate swallowing function in these individuals. Those that exist have extremely small sample sizes with limited SLP involvement. The vast majority identified combined methods of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy as being the most effective tools in resolving symptoms of phagophobia. Historically, the role of SLPs in managing this disorder has been questionable. How do we address these patients’ unique complaints in the context of normal/intact swallowing physiology? In many cases, SLPs have opted to refer these patients to a mental health specialist under the premise that skilled dysphagia services were contraindicated. Today, SLPs are reevaluating this position and joining forces with mental health providers to offer patients therapy that addresses underlying swallowing anxieties in concert with oral-motor retraining and exposures to challenge foods and textures. This approach carries enormous promise as an efficacious therapeutic modality that restores normal eating/swallowing behavior through both cognitive and sensorimotor retraining.

We all know that the rise and influence of mobile technology is astounding. Our smart phones are extrinsically becoming an extension of ourselves. Our smart phones have allowed us to do everything from listen to specially tailored radio stations to monitoring our daily calories and movement patterns. The power of this technology is extraordinary. It allows for immediate and constant access to the services and interests that we select. It is not surprising that the power of mobile app technology has been well integrated into the healthcare arena. Patients are now able to monitor their heart rates, check their blood sugar levels and get daily reminders to take their medications. Preliminary research studies have validated that patients are more likely to demonstrate compliance and clinical advancement with use of this technology. It is a powerful vehicle to maintain strong contact between the patient and the medical provider. The most recent wave of applications has now taken residence within the world of skilled voice therapy.

 

iVoiceTherapy is designed to provide clinicians with a unique opportunity to customize a dedicated voice therapy home exercise regimen in an educational and engaging format. It is perfect for all individuals seeking restoration of speaking or singing voice quality. The application blends core elements that translate into optimal levels of patient compliance. They include, exercise programming/cueing, patient education and biofeedback. Clinicians are able to program various settings that will cue patients to perform specific exercises at designated times. Patients’ receive visual and auditory messages prompting the performance of tasks. After completion, each encounter is time dated and stamped for subsequent review with the treating clinician.

 

iVoiceTherapy offers patients the ability to view and explore a gallery of laryngeal pathologies as well as a broad array of educational materials designed to promote enhanced awareness and overall level of engagement. It allows patients to visualize the nature of their impairments as a way of reaffirming their commitment to voice restoration. Similarly, iVoiceTherapy employs a variety of aids to foster understanding and subsequent compliance with designated behaviors to improve laryngeal hygiene and posture.

 

The application is well suited for individuals who sustain acute or chronic voice changes associated with a broad array of diagnoses including traumatic vocal fold lesions, muscle tension dysphonia, Irritable larynx syndrome as well as professional and avocational singers. iVoiceTherapy is designed to be a physician and clinician driven platform that is specially tailored by the medical team. Clinicians are able to identify patients who would benefit from the regimen and suggest download from the iTunes store. Once downloaded, the application will be programmed by the treating clinician to ensure that all salient issues are addressed. Patients are instructed to perform exercises and document progress on a daily basis. This allows both parties to review progress during subsequent visits. The application is fluid in that it can be reprogrammed in order to assist with progression towards stated goals.

 

iVoiceTherapy also serves as an excellent desk reference for clinicians who encounter voice disorders less frequently.  The ear training and pathology labs permit familiarity with the most commonly encountered voice conditions.  Navigation through the Exercises tab provides auditory modeling of resonant voice therapy, paradoxical vocal fold movement strategies, cough suppression, flexibility/strengthening tasks and singing regimens.

 

iVoiceTherapy is currently available on the iTunes store for $12.99. It is optimized for an iPhone.  The application will also work on an iPad.

 

 

Speech Pathologists routinely encounter patients who present with well-defined voice and swallowing disturbances fueled by motility disorders. However, capturing objective information about esophageal function can often be difficult and frustrating for both the patient and the clinician. There are a variety of reasons for this: 1. There are a limited number of Otolaryngologists and Gastroenterologists that specialize in esophageal motility 2. Technology that evaluates these disorders is expensive and requires specialty-trained staff. 3. Motility testing is rarely housed within a dedicated voice and swallowing center which creates a challenge in multidisciplinary collaboration and communication.

Understanding the role of motility disorders in co-existing dysphagia and dysphonia is imperative. The esophagus is a muscular tube that extends from the neck to the abdomen and connects the back of the throat to the stomach. The upper and lower most segments are high-pressure sphincters that are tonically contracted at rest and provide protection against back flow of material. When a person swallows, the coordinated muscular contractions of the esophagus propel the food or fluid from the throat to the stomach. If the muscular contractions become disrupted or weak, patients may experience a variety of symptoms. Acid regurgitation may or may not be reported. Patients may come into the speech pathology clinic complaining of chronic, refractory cough, persistent dysphonia and laryngospasm, as of which may be directly fueled or exacerbated by motility disorders.

High resolution manometry is an invaluable tool that allows for detailed evaluation of pressure and motor function within the esophagus and can help in diagnosing complex disorders including: GERD/LPR, Hiatal Hernia, Nutcracker esophagus and Achalasia. pH testing similarly generates objective quantification of reflux events that occur over an extended period of time. Together, these tools provide the SLP with essential information that allows for the most accurate assessment and understanding of complex voice and swallowing disorders. It also allows for sound, mutli-disciplinary treatment planning in order to generate the most ideal clinical outcomes.  -Liza Blumenfeld