Dysphagia Rehabilitation Using Digital Technology: A Scoping Review

Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Hwang, N. K., Yoon, T. H., et al. (2025).

Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 18(1), e70009.

<div>This scoping review investigates the effects of technology-based rehabilitation interventions for individuals with dysphagia.</div>

National Research Foundation of Korea

From January 2000 to June 2023

<div>Quantitative studies,&nbsp;qualitative studies, and controlled trials</div>

25

<div>Digital interventions for swallowing rehabilitation resulted in positive outcomes for adults with dysphagia. Specific findings included:</div> <div> <ul> <li><strong>Home-based rehabilitation using apps </strong>had mixed effects. <ul> <li>Oral musculature strength: Two studies reported improved oral musculature strength.</li> <li>Swallow function: One study reported improved mastication and improved performance on a water swallow test. However, one study reported no significant improvement in swallow function per video fluoroscopy.&nbsp;</li> <li>Quality of life (QoL): Similar improvements in QoL were seen between home-based rehabilitation using apps and traditional face-to-face interventions.</li> <li>Treatment adheres: Six out of seven studies reported high treatment adherence, with one study reporting low adherence app-based, patient-directed, and face-to-face clinician-directed programs.&nbsp;</li> <li>Cost-effectiveness: One study reported reduced overall costs compared to a traditional, face-to-face intervention.</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Dysphagia intervention via telepractice</strong> results in improved outcomes: <ul> <li>Swallow Function: One study reported improved swallow function.&nbsp;</li> <li>Cost-effectiveness: One study reported a significant cost savings compared to a traditional, face-to-face intervention and a reduced number of appointments needed to meet treatment goals.&nbsp;</li> <li>Client satisfaction: Two studies reported high client satisfaction.&nbsp;</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Interventions with game-based biofeedback</strong> resulted in positive outcomes: <ul> <li>Oral musculature function: Singular studies reported improved hyolaryngeal elevation and improved tongue strength, muscle activation, and thickness.</li> <li>Swallow function: One study reported improved swallow function per video fluoroscopy. Interventions with game-based biofeedback improved swallow function compared to traditional oropharyngeal exercises in isolation (two studies).</li> <li>Airway protection: One study reported equal improvements in airway protection for those that received chin tuck against resistance exercises with game-based biofeedback and those that received Shaker exercises in isolation.&nbsp;</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div>Limitations to this review include methodological limitations regarding study quality.</div>

<div>Technological literacy, care partner support, and training and education facilitated telepractice and app-based dysphagia rehabilitation. Barriers included technical issues and poor user experience.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Limitations to this review include methodological limitations regarding study quality.</div>