ABSTRACT

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of olfactory stimulation using Black Pepper Oil (BPO) on the swallowing function recovery of patients with dysphagia after suffering a stroke. Methods : Twenty patients with dysphagia after suffering a stroke were examined, and divided into a control group of 10 people given swallowing therapy intervention using BPO olfactory stimulation, and an experimental group of 10 people given swallowing therapy intervention using olfactory stimulation with distilled water. A Functional Dysphagia Scale was used to compare the subjects’swallowing function before and after treatment intervention over a 6-week period, and the following results were obtained. Results : After the swallowing therapy using BPO olfactory stimulation, the subjects’swallowing functions were significantly improved (p<.05). An itemized change of swallowing function from the swallowing therapy intervention using BPO olfactory stimulation showed a statistically significant difference in the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, laryngeal elevation and epiglottic closure, valleculae residue, and pharyngeal transit time (p<.05). Conclusion : Swallowing therapy using BPO olfactory stimulation improved the swallowing function of stroke patients with dysphagia. Therefore, swallowing therapy using BPO olfactory stimulation can be considered for useful application in clinical work therapy as a new method of swallowing therapy, particularly since its cost is inexpensive and the method is simple.