Navigating early speech and swallowing challenges in progressive supranuclear palsy: A case study

Abstract

Progressive supranuclear palsy is a multisystem neurodegenerative disease which exhibits symptoms such as cognitive change, impaired balance, early falls, blurry or double vision, sleep difficulties, dysphagia, drooling, urinary urgency or incontinence, constipation, depression or anxiety, hyperphagia and change in food preferences, and weight loss. The present case discusses the speech and swallowing issues in a 61-year-old male with progressive supranuclear palsy at early stage. Speech and swallowing observations revealed aspiration, hypophonia, difficulty swallowing, regurgitation episodes, and slurred speech. Followed by speech and swallowing assessment, the patient was diagnosed with Dysarthria with oropharyngeal dysphagia. T Syndopa Plus (1mg 1-1-1/day) was recommended by a neurologist. Diet modification and safe swallow strategies were suggested by speech language pathologist. Follow up after one month showed a significant improvement in swallowing skills and speech intelligibility. The patient with progressive supranuclear palsy responds well to the T Syndopa- Plus (1mg 1-1-1/day) medication, diet modification and safe swallow strategies at an early stage of the disorder. The present case stresses on the importance of swallow related intervention at early stage.