Read this in todays Scottish Daily Mail and was just wondering if this is a step in the right direction for Ataxia sufferers. A throat tingeler has been developed to help people swallow. The hand held device is desighned to strengthen throat muscles of patients with dysphagia, which means they have difficulty swallowing- estimated to affect up to one in 12 people at some point.The condition is linked to several health conditions, including chronicobstructive pulmonary disease and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. The gadget uses electrodes on the throat to deliver small electric shocks. These cause the muscles to contract wich strengthens them. The patient has four one hour sessions a week, for a month.
In one trial,97 per cent of adult patients with severe dysphagia no longer needed a feeding tube after treatment. the device is being used on infants with dysphagia at the hospital for sick children in toronto.
Does anyone else think this would help ataxia? Can,t get anymore info