Effects of age on the speed of hyoid bone movement during swallowing

Abstract

Background: dysphagia has become a pivotal issue due to the increased number of elderly people, and the potential for increased risk of pneumonia from dysphagia with frequent aspiration. Timely and adequate hyoid bone movement is an essential component of the swallowing movement. However, the effects of age on hyoid speed have not been investigated thoroughly. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of age on hyoid speed with ultrasonography. Methods: 97 healthy participants were allocated to 3 different age groups (20-39, 40-64, and above 65 years old). An ultrasonography machine with a water balloon fixed to the transducer, which provided better contact, was used. Each participant swallowed 10 mL of juices of 3 different consistencies (mildly thick, moderately thick, and extremely thick juice) while sitting upright. The transducer was placed in the midsagittal plane of the submental area. The speed of hyoid movement was calculated as the maximal hyoid bone displacement divided by start-to-max duration. Results: The speed of hyoid movement during swallowing decreased as the age increased. However, the post-hoc analysis only showed a significant difference between the 20-39 and above 65 age groups when the participants swallowed moderately thick juice. Conclusion: This study illuminates the use of ultrasound in providing quantitative measures of hyoid speed during swallowing. The result adds to the current understanding of swallowing dynamics and the adaptive physiological mechanisms that take place when the age increases. We will analyze the hyoid speed in patients of various dysphagic pathologies.