“Patterns Of Speech Articulation In Subjects With Neurogenic Dysphagia And Dysarthria” is the first article to empirically associate neuromuscular disorders of speech articulation with those of swallowing.  In the field of communication disorders, clinicians are regularly confronted with patients, both adult and pediatric, who have difficulty with both functions.  This approach to both disorders should have been taken years ago. 

The article was well written and the methods appropriate for the limited scope of the study.  It is to be hoped that future studies will be conducted along the same lines so that a better understanding of the relationship between speech and swallowing can be developed.  This study seems to be a preliminary step in that direction.

I have been a practicing speech/language pathologist for more than 30 years, working with clients across the entire spectrum of the profession:  hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers and preschools.