Characterization of Swallowing Sounds with the Use of Sonar Doppler in Full-Term and Preterm Newborns

Abstract

Introduction Technological advances have provided a large variety of instruments to view the swallowing event, aiding in the evaluation, diagnosis, and monitoring of disturbances. These advances include electromyography of the surface, dynamic video fluoroscopy, and most recently sonar Doppler.

Objective To characterize swallowing sounds in typical children through the use of sonar Doppler.

Method Thirty newborns participated in this prospective study. All newborns received breast milk through either their mother's breasts or bottles during data collection. The newborns were placed in either right lateral or left lateral positions when given breast milk through their mother's breasts and in a sitting position when given a bottle. There were five variables measured: initial frequency of sound wave (FoI), frequency of the first peak of the sound wave (FoP1), frequency of the second peak of the sound wave (FoP2), initial intensity and final sound wave (II and IF), and swallowing length (T), the time elapsed from the beginning until the end of the analyzed acoustic signal measured by the audio signal, in seconds.

Results The values obtained in the initial frequency of the babies had a mean of 850 Hz. In terms of frequency of first peak, only three presented with a subtle peak, which was due to the elevated larynx position.

Conclusion The use of sonar Doppler as a complementary exam for clinical evaluations is of upmost importance because it is nonintrusive and painless, and it is not necessary to place patients in a special room or expose them to radiation.

Keywords

deglutition - infant - newborn - Doppler effect

Introduction

Eating is a vital function in any age and especially for a newborn. Eating orally for newborns is a complex activity that requires coordination of sucking, breathing, and swallowing functions so that it does not risk aspiration.[1]

Efficient and secure eating requires not only sucking, but also coordination in breathing with sucking and swallowing. This involves a combination of functions from the lips, jaw, tongue, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus.[2] Therefore the coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing cannot be completely acquired in premature babies when oral eating is introduced.[3]

Premature babies have a high risk of eating difficulties. Their neurologic immaturity, abnormal muscular tone, disabled oral reflexes, general weakness, and difficulties in autoregulation could lower the quality of their oral motor abilities, interfering in the synchronization of sucking, swallowing, and breathing, which is a primary oral motor mechanism, and the amount ingested.[4] [5]

Technological advances have provided a large variety of instruments to view the swallowing event, aiding in the evaluation, diagnosis, and monitoring of disturbances. These advances include electromyography of the surface,[6] sonograms of swallowing action,[7] swallowing endoscopies, dynamic video fluoroscopy of swallowing,[8] [9] virtual endoscopy through a computerized tomography with reconstructive software,[10] cervical auscultation through a microphone and accelerometer,[11] and most recently sonar Doppler.[12] [13] [14] [15]

These procedures are not invasive and are used to contribute to the evaluations of swallowing. Experiments with analytical computations of swallowing sounds have been made, and these studies demonstrate the usefulness of digital sounds of swallowing for duration measurements and the amplitude of sound waves.[13] [16] [17]

The technical development of sonar Doppler as a method for evaluating swallowing makes comprehension of the findings in swallowing disorders necessary. Studies on the use of sonar Doppler in evaluating swallowing up to now show normal swallowing sound waves in all age groups without pointing to findings referring to swallowing disturbances.[12] [13] [14] [15]

Sonar Doppler of the larynx is a noninvasive technique that causes no pain or exposure to radiation. There is no need for sedatives, and it is quick and easy to use in infants. Results can be recorded with sound analysis software. The equipment is of good quality and has a widespread availability—it is available in most hospitals and clinics. There is no need for further investment in new equipment because the equipment already exists for use in other parts of the body. The equipment is also easy to transport.

Sonar Doppler does not substitute for video fluoroscopy and video endoscopy of swallowing, but it could help in the evaluation of functional swallowing and in the monitoring of treatment as a biofeedback, in which muscular activity can be converted into an audio stimulus, visual stimulus, or both.

The objective of this study was to characterize swallowing sounds in typical children using sonar Doppler.

Methods

The present observational study occurred March 2010 through October 2011. The study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee through the registration of CEP: 2099.266/2009-11, on March 12, 2010.

Participants included 30 premature newborns. Guardians were informed of the study and were solicited for the authorization of participation of newborn babies. Once they accepted, they were asked to sign terms of agreement and authorization.

Criteria for inclusion in study was premature newborn of either sex, born in a public institution in Curitiba city, with adequate sucking and swallowing, substantiated through previous speech evaluations. Babies who showed breathing difficulties in coordination of breathing and swallowing or any other structural and/or functional alterations that could interfere with swallowing were excluded. Newborns with any diagnosis of neurologic problems or associated syndromes and high-risk newborns with pathologies that could complicate alterations in the stomatognathic system were also excluded.

To record the sound, a portal ultrasonic detector was used (model DF-4001, Martec brand), with a plain disc transducer, of only one crystal, providing interface to the sonar Doppler. The ultrasound frequency was 2.5 Hz, with output 10 mW/cm² and an output power of 1 W sound. The Doppler equipment was coupled with a standard IBM microcomputer, with a Pentium 200-MHz processor, 32 MB of RAM, video plate with high color support (16 bits; 800 × 600), CD-ROM drive of 8 × , sound plate, and speakers. The operating system was Windows 98 and VOX metria Software was used.[18]

All newborns received breast milk through either their mother's breasts or bottles during data collection. The newborns were placed in either right lateral or left lateral positions when given breast milk through their mother's breasts and in a sitting position when given a bottle. As an indicator for the best location of the positioning of the transducer, a presentation by Takahashi et al was used,[19] which showed the best adaptation of the transducer and the best capture of sonorous signal, location 11, above the lateral region of the trachea, inferior to the cricoids cartilage. The transducer was adjusted onto the neck using a gel contact to facilitate the contact of the transducer and skin. The transducer's bundle was positioned to form an angle of 30 to 60 degrees.

Five variables were measured: initial frequency of sound wave (FoI), frequency of the first peak of the sound wave (FoP1), frequency of the second peak of the sound wave (FoP2), initial intensity and final sound wave (II and IF), and swallowing length (T), the time elapsed from the beginning until the end of the analyzed acoustic signal measured by the audio signal, in seconds.

Results

Of the babies evaluated, 50% were male and 50% were females; they all were 48 hours old.

The values obtained in the initial frequency had a mean of 850 Hz as shown in [Table 1]. In terms of frequency of first peak, only three presented with a subtle peak, due to the elevated larynx position ([Table 2]). [Table 3] shows the frequency of the second peak standards found in newborns. The mean of the initial intensity of adults and newborns are shown in [Table 4]. Finally, [Table 5] shows swallowing time in the group studied.

Table 1 Mean initial frequency (Hz) in newborns

Consistency	Newborns
Liquid	850

Table 2 Mean frequency of first peak in newborns

Consistency	Newborns
Liquid	[*]

^* Not obtained peak value, was a subtle peak.

Table 3 Mean frequency (Hz) of the second peak in newborns

Consistency	Newborns
Liquid	1087

Table 4 Mean of initial and final intensity (dB) in newborns

Intensity	Newborns	Adults
Initial	72	51
Final	91	91

Table 5 Mean swallowing time (s) in newborns

Time	Newborns
T1	0.53
T2	1.04
T3	2.08

Discussion

Technological advances have brought about instruments with great variability in applications, aiding in the search of evaluations, diagnostics, and monitoring of swallowing disorders. Tools that detect with precision alterations in the swallowing process are important not only scientifically but also clinically. In the research field, these tools validate objective data by greatly reducing subjectivity in the individuals doing the evaluations. In clinics, they could facilitate decisions made by therapists, indicating which therapeutic maneuvers should be used or which eating consistency is the safest to digest.[17]

According to some authors,[20] the mean initial frequency of the swallowing sound in adults is FoI 567 Hz; in the present study it was observed that in newborns the mean found was FoI 850 Hz, showing a more acute frequency compared with adults.

Findings in first peak in adults are characterized by a weak signal associated with laryngeal lift, and the passage of cake through the pharynx[21] was FoP1 905 Hz; of the 30 newborns analyzed only three presented with sufficient initial peak. This can be explained through the elevated position of the larynx.

Frequency of the second peak represents a strong sound associated with the opening of the cricopharyngeal[21]; in adults, the mean is FoP2 1.087 Hz, very close frequencies between the two peaks.

The mean of initial and final intensities found in adults was, respectively, 51 dB and 91 dB; in newborns the mean was 72 dB and 91 dB.

Finally, the times found in swallowing standards in adults were T1: 1.33 seconds; T2: 1.67 seconds; T3: 1.85 seconds; and in newborns they were T1: 0.53 seconds, T2: 1.04 seconds, T3: 2.08 seconds.

As found in these data, sonar Doppler can be used as a method of evaluation for swallowing, giving more support during evaluations, treatment, and diagnosis of a dysphasic patient.

Conclusion

The use of sonar Doppler as a complementary exam for clinical evaluations is of upmost importance because it is nonintrusive and painless, and it is not necessary to place patients in a special room or expose them to radiation. Not only is it unnecessary to sedate the patient, the time of use is short, making it easy to use in infants. The findings could be recorded in analytic sound software, linked in any portal computer, using portal, cost-effective equipment.

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