Sound cues to improve swallowing in Parkinson's disease patients

This pilot study is testing whether rhythmic auditory cues—hearing rhythmic sounds timed to help guide movement—can reduce an involuntary tongue movement problem called 'rolling' in people with Parkinson's disease who have swallowing difficulties. Researchers believe that because rhythmic sound cues have worked well for other movement problems in Parkinson's patients, they might also help with this specific swallowing issue. The study will look at whether this simple, non-drug approach can improve swallowing safety, nutrition, and overall quality of life.

People with Parkinson's disease often struggle with a repetitive tongue movement that happens before swallowing (called rolling), which can lead to serious complications like aspiration pneumonia, weight loss, and reduced quality of life. Current treatments are limited, so researchers want to test whether rhythmic sound cues—a technique already proven helpful for other movement problems in Parkinson's patients—could safely reduce this involuntary movement and improve swallowing.