Abstract of Thesis Presented to the Graduate School
 of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the
 Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts

 EFFECTS OF BOLUS CONSISTENCY ON TIMING AND SAFETY OF SWALLOW
 IN PARKINSON' S DISEASE

 By

 Michelle S. Troche

 May 2006

Chair: Christine Sapienza
Major Department: Communication Sciences and Disorders

 Safety and timing of swallow are essential for health and quality of life. The study

of swallow in Parkinson's disease (PD) is especially important, in that aspiration

pneumonia is the leading cause of death in this population. One of the therapeutic

strategies employed in the treatment of swallowing problems is diet modification. The

primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bolus consistency on P-A score

and timing of the oral-pharyngeal swallow of persons with PD. The secondary goal was

to explore the relationship between various quantifiable components of hyoid movement

and measures of swallow timing and penetration/aspiration. The videoradiographic

images of ten participants with PD swallowing six thin, and six pudding thick boluses

were measured. The results demonstrated various significant differences and

relationships among the dependent variables (i.e., oral transit time, pharyngeal transit

time, number of tongue pumps, P-A score, and SWAL-QOL measures). The implications

for further research and clinical practice are discussed.