NMES Dysphagia Myth Busters

NMES is simply another term for electrical stimulation

There are many anatomical sites that are appropriate for electrode placement

NMES is simply another term for electrical stimulation

NOT TRUE! An orange is not an apple even though they are both fruits. An electrical stimulation protocol

MUST meet certain criteria

in order to be classified as NMES.

Click below to discover that criteria

Criteria for NMES

You must use an FDA approved device for dysphagia

There are many anatomical sites that are appropriate for electrode placement

NMES is simply another term for electrical stimulation

NOT TRUE! All devices are FDA cleared for muscle re-education which can include ANY disorder including dysphagia. Click below for a full explanation and

FDA legal opinion.

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There are many anatomical sites that are appropriate for electrode placement

NO THERE ARE NOT! There is only one site for pharyngeal dysphagia that is appropriate and that is in

the submental region

AKA the suprahyoid muscles.

There is no other anatomical site

that is biologically plausible.

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There is not enough evidence for NMES and dysphagia

I need to be certified to use electrical stimulation

There are many anatomical sites that are appropriate for electrode placement

FALSE! The fact is it meets

the legal definition for

preponderance of evidence.

There were over 134 articles published

between 2000-2017 alone!

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Electrical stimulation will evoke a swallow

I need to be certified to use electrical stimulation

NOT AT ALL! The use of NMES will not cause a swallow to occur but will cause

the muscles of swallowing to contract.

This is not the same thing.

I need to be certified to use electrical stimulation

NOPE! You need to be competent and skilled in order to perform the technique correctly. You may obtain a certificate for a course but ASHA does not recognize that as a certification.

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