Research

Swallowing Study

Pilot Study Evaluating Characteristic Closure Patterns of the Normal Velopharyngeal Portal

Protocol Description

This prospective study will help researchers determine the characteristic differences between people with and without normal throat swallowing function. Televex Videofluoroscopy will be used to create X-ray video recordings of participants throats during swallowing and speaking for further study. Investigators will use these findings focused on the velopharyngeal mechanism of healthy individuals and compare them to those who are diagnosed with submucous cleft palate.

Eligibility Criteria

Men and women ages 18 to 50 with normal palate and “short” palate will be considered for this study.
Men: Age 18 to 50
Women: Age 18 to 50

Requirements
Candidates will first be screened through an evaluation by the speech pathologist at the Division of Pediatric Plastic Surgery and Cleft-Craniofacial Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Those who qualify for the study will visit the Department of Radiology for the Televex Videofluoroscopy procedure, which takes about 3 to 5 minutes. A follow-up examination, which takes about an hour, will be done one week later.
Visits: 2
Duration: 1 week

Status: Open for Enrollment

Additional Resources
Study description at National Institutes of Health