The Role of Fatigue in the Aging Swallow: A Review
Danielle Brates, Michelle S. Troche, Sonja M. Molfenter
Abstract
Fatigue is a term commonly used to describe patient performance and/or subjective experience in the evaluation and management of swallowing disorders (known as <i>dysphagia</i>). There is an association between fatigue and aging, as well as fatigue and many dysphagia-causing diseases/disorders. Therefore, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are justifiably aware of and concerned about the potential impact of fatigue on swallowing performance and mealtime behavior. However, there is minimal agreement on and understanding of what constitutes swallowing-related fatigue, how it is identified and measured, who is at risk, and its impact on swallowing function, overall health, and quality of life. The purpose of this review is to discuss the role of fatigue in swallowing and eating behavior in the context of aging, and how fatigue may be measured and managed clinically. We review the concept of fatigue and its clinical implications for swallowing function and mealtime behavior through the dichotomous framework of self-perceived fatigue versus measurable fatigability. Quantitative fatigability and patient-reported fatigue are discussed. We conclude with implications for future research.