Sounds of swallowing

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Abstract
Sounds of swallowing as detected by a throat microphone have been used in the past primarily to mark the occurrence of swallowing. The source of these sounds and what information the signals might contain about function is relatively unknown. For this investigation, signals from a miniature accelerometer taped to the throat were recorded simultaneously with videofluoroscopic data taken while normal subjects swallowed small amounts of liquid barium suspension and barium paste. The progress of the barium “bolus” could thus be followed radiographically, and physical events in swallowing related in time to accelerometer signal characteristics. The most prominent signal feature is a relatively brief (200-ms) broadband noise that corresponds to the rapid passage of the bolus through the lower pharynx and cricopharyngeal sphincter into the esophagus. The spectrum of the noise contains stronger high-frequency components for a liquid than for a paste swallow. In close temporal proximity to this noise component, or even mixed with it, is often a periodic signal that is in the frequency range of high-pitched pronation (approximately 500 Hz) and which may be of laryngeal origin. Other low-amplitude signal features corresponded to structural movement of the hyoid/larynx or epiglottis. [Work supported by NIH.]

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