Comparative Analysis of Spontaneous Swallowing Sounds Between the Young and the Elderly: An Indicator of Aging Dysphagia

The study aims at comparatively analyzing the characteristics of the swallowing sound of the young and the elderly. A total of 100 eligible human subjects were divided into two groups: A young group (n = 50, age 19–30 years, sex ratio 1:1) and an elderly group (n = 50, 60–85 years, sex ratio 1:1). The neck circumference (at the thyroid cartilage level) and the body mass index (BMI) of the subjects were measured. The spontaneous swallowing sound within 20 min was recorded and analyzed using Raven Pro 1.5.0. The parameters included were swallows per minute (SPM), swallowing sound duration (SSD), energy delivered by one swallowing sound (E), time of consuming half E(E ^0.5t ), and percentage of time spent on half-energy consumption for a single swallowing sound (E ^0.5Δt ). Statistical analysis performed using R-3.4.0. NC showed no difference between the two groups (34.31 ± 3.45 cm versus 33.95 ± 3.00 cm, P= 0.5789). Compared to the young group, the elderly group showed a higher BMI, lesser SPM, longer SSD, more E _s in each swallow, longer E ^0.5t , and identical E ^0.5Δt . The elderly showed reduced SPM and prolonged SSD.