Swallow-monitoring system with acoustic analysis for dysphagia

Dysphagia is a medical term for difficulty of swallowing. For these patients, silent aspiration or aspiration without coughing lead to aspiration pneumonia. Generally, Video Fluoroscopic (VF) swallow-testing is performed to evaluate swallowing movement. The purpose of VF is the detailed evaluation and diagnosis of dysphagia. Based on them, the examiner estimates how to approach for dysphagia, and provides appropriately adjusted food consistency. However, this testing has some serious problems that include X-ray exposure and lack of mobility, and so on. Therefore, this study proposes a nonrestrictive and noninvasive swallow-monitoring system using acoustic analysis. This system works on observation of swallowing and breathing, and detects swallowing based on acoustic frequency factors and respiratory flow. As a result, this study developed an algorism for swallowing detection with high specificity. Moreover, it is discussed and concluded on the findings associated with the frequency properties of swallowing and non-swallowing behaviors.