Our team has a strong interest in research. Our research aims to make evaluations faster, more accurate, and simpler, and we also study treatment and which methods get patients better.
Please call our clinic at 617.638.8124 to inquire about ongoing research studies, which include the follow areas.
Communication, Feeding, Speech, and Swallowing Disorders
We are particularly interested in studying communication, feeding, speech and swallowing disorders. Some questions we are interested in studying include:
- What types of swallowing patterns can we observe on flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) exams? What types of swallowing patterns can we observe on modified barium swallows (MBS)? Are clinical impression different depending on the type of evaluation? We are currently doing simultaneous studies (FEES/MBS) to investigate this question: Parameters of Instrumental Swallowing Evaluations: Describing a Diagnostic Dilemma
- In stroke patients, does frequent and intensive therapy help improve outcomes? Does it avoid potential poor outcomes like feeding tubes or longer hospital stays?
- How can we best assess sensation in the throat? In particular, is there a way to best evaluate the laryngeal adductor reflex and what does this information tell us?
- How can we teach parents to feed their children in a safe way? We are interested in the thickness of liquid and how to make sure this can be carried out at home.
- Is there a relationship between certain factors in extubated patients and laryngeal sensation? We are investigating this in the study Relationship Between Laryngeal Sensation, Length of Intubation, and Aspiration in Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure.
Outcomes in Laryngectomy Patients
Research questions in this area include:
- Does the size of the voice prosthesis matter?
- What types of improvements do we notice in patients who use laryngectomy tubes and heat-moisture exchange devices?
Voice Research
Research questions in this area include:
- What information can we learn from patient-reports symptoms? Are there influences like language and other socioeconomic barriers?
- What type of voice evaluation data can inform therapy, for example types of muscle tension and cepstral peak prominence? How can we best rehabilitate the professional voice? You can learn more about this research on the STEPP Lab site.
- Does manual therapy help to reduce problems in patients such as breathing, tension, and anxiety? Learn more about this research on the Breatheon site.
Patient Safety and Equity
Empowering Expression Through Innovation for Patients in Acute Care
We're improving safety for at-risk patients by providing them with an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) via a tailored system.
Boston Medical Center cares for a vulnerable population, and when our patients are admitted to the hospital, some of them are rendered even more vulnerable to serious medical outcomes due to their loss of communication abilities. By empowering these patients to use a tailored communication system regardless of their medical condition, we will demonstrate that serious medical outcomes can be prevented when patients are given the ability to communicate their wants and needs effectively.
Further, we have built into our plan several action items for sustainability, allowing us to make communication an option for all admitted patients in the future. We have been awarded a two-year grant to implement this program, entitled Empowering Expression Through Innovation for Patients in Acute Care.
Through Thick and Thin: Improving Health Outcomes for Children with Aspiration
Our pediatric feeding team has been awarded Health Equity Accelerator Seed Funding for a project entitled: “Through Thick and Thin: Improving Health Outcomes for Children with Aspiration.”
We aim to study how health inequities impact children with feeding disorders. For instance, in trying to mitigate aspiration risk, they often grapple with parents not being able to access the supplies needed for thickening the infant's or child's liquids when medically indicated.
Our unique population of patients at Boston Medical Center, who derive from financially, racially, culturally, and socially diverse backgrounds are at higher risk for health inequities. In families who are non-English speaking, understanding the recommendations for thickening their child's liquids becomes even more challenging.
We aim to study be a positive step to helping bridge the divide for accessing necessary thickening materials. By enabling families to have the tools they need to thicken the liquids appropriately as well as the educational support to implement the instructions, we may be able to reduce hospitalizations, support continued breast-milk feeding initiatives, and empower caregivers to have success safely feeding and nourishing their children.
Enhancement of Safe Feeding in Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center: “ESIP Initiative
The Patient Safety Grant Committee awarded our team a grant entitled Enhancement of Safe Feeding in Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center: "ESIP Initiative." In this initiative, we aim to assess if providing a three-tiered approach to enhancing provider education, parent education, and access to feeding therapy improves patient outcomes.
Publications
Our dedicated team of clinician researchers have published many scientific papers to help advance our practice and better inform clinical care. Some of our publications from previous research include:
- Kumar S, Marchina S, Langmore S, Massaro J, Palmisano J, Wang N, Searls DE, Lioutas V, Pisegna J, Wagner C, Shinde A, Schlaug G. Fostering eating after stroke (FEASt) trial for improving post-stroke dysphagia with non-invasive brain stimulation. Sci Rep. 2022 Jun 10; 12(1):9607.View Related Profiles. PMID: 35689084; PMCID: PMC9187742; DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14390-9;
- Sambhu M, Goh T, Golan H, Pisegna J, Noordzij JP. Evaluating the use of baclofen as adjunct treatment for muscle tension dysphonia. Am J Otolaryngol. 2022 Mar-Apr; 43(2):103309.View Related Profiles. PMID: 34896937
- Starmer HM, Arrese L, Langmore S, Ma Y, Murray J, Patterson J, Pisegna J, Roe J, Tabor-Gray L, Hutcheson K. Adaptation and Validation of the Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity for Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing: DIGEST-FEES. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2021 06 04; 64(6):1802-1810.View Related Profiles. PMID: 34033498
- Plocienniczak MJ, Patel R, Pisegna J, Grillone G, Brook CD. Evaluating a Prototype Nasolaryngoscopy Hood During Aerosol-Generating Procedures in Otolaryngology. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021 06; 164(6):1251-1256.View Related Profiles. PMID: 33228434; PMCID: PMC7686647; DOI: 10.1177/0194599820973652;
- Ganann MG, Kitila M, Patel R, Brook CD, Pisegna JM. The FEES box: A novel barrier to contain particles during aerosol-generating procedures. Am J Otolaryngol. 2021 May-Jun; 42(3):102888.View Related Profiles. PMID: 33460980; PMCID: PMC7834572; DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2020.102888;
- Tadavarthi Y, Hosseini P, Reyes SE, Focht Garand KL, Pisegna JM, Pearson WG. Pilot Study of Quantitative Methods for Differentiating Pharyngeal Swallowing Mechanics by Dysphagia Etiology. Dysphagia. 2021 04; 36(2):231-241. PMID: 32410203; PMCID: PMC7666098; DOI: 10.1007/s00455-020-10123-0;
- Kim K, Pisegna JM, Kennedy S, Langmore S. Measuring Vallecular Volume on Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing: A Proof of Concept Study. Dysphagia. 2021 02; 36(1):96-107.View Related Profiles. PMID: 32303907
- Marchina S, Pisegna JM, Massaro JM, Langmore SE, McVey C, Wang J, Kumar S. Transcranial direct current stimulation for post-stroke dysphagia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Neurol. 2021 Jan; 268(1):293-304.View Related Profiles. PMID: 32797300
- Pisegna JM, Langmore SE, Meyer TK, Pauloski B. Swallowing Patterns in the HNC Population: Timing of Penetration-Aspiration Events and Residue. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Dec; 163(6):1232-1239.View Related Profiles. PMID: 32633196
- McNally E, Krisciunas GP, Langmore SE, Crimlisk JT, Pisegna JM, Massaro J. Oral Care Clinical Trial to Reduce Non-Intensive Care Unit, Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: Lessons for Future Research. J Healthc Qual. 2019 Jan/Feb; 41(1):1-9. PMID: 29634593.
- Borders JC, Fink D, Levitt JE, McKeehan J, McNally E, Rubio A, Scheel R, Siner JM, Taborda SG, Vojnik R, Warner H. Relationship Between Laryngeal Sensation, Length of Intubation, and Aspiration in Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure. Dysphagia. 2019 Jan 29:1-8.