Respiratory-swallow training in head and neck cancer

Evaluating the feasibility of a respiratory-swallow training intervention to improve swallow function for people with head and neck cancer

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN12055450

Enrollment

Registered

2026-04-22

Start date

2026-05-06

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-05-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Swallow training in head and neck cancer Cancer

Interventions

Development of Respiratory-Swallow Training programme (biofeedback) A treatment manual will be developed for ReST using biofeedback using the TIDieR framework detailing: the equipment set-up, feedback

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 120 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Have a clinical diagnosis of dysphagia on instrumental assessment using videofluoroscopic swallow study or fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing 2. Have dysphagia indicated by outcome measures with penetration aspiration scale score at least 3 and/or DIGEST efficiency grade at least 1 3. Have completed chemotherapy, radiotherapy and or surgical intervention with curative intent for first time diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck at least 3 months previously 4. Be able to give informed consent 5. Be aged 18 years or above 6. Be able to tolerate fluids orally IDDSI Level 0 to 3 7. Exhibit a suboptimal respiratory swallow pattern exhale to inhale, inhale to inhale, or inhale to exhale in at least 20% of swallow trials 8. Be able to hold a drink orally and resume breathing

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. A nasogastric tube, laryngectomy or tracheostomy where tube presence will alter respiratory swallow coordination 2. Known neurological disease or insult impacting on swallowing 3. Spinal surgery or insult impacting on swallowing 4. Chronic COPD with forced expiratory volume less than 30% on pulmonary function testing 5. Recent history within the last 3 months of aspiration pneumonia

Countries

England, United Kingdom

Contacts

Public ContactMichelle Lawton

michelle.lawton@liverpool.ac.uk-

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: May 7, 2026