| Objective: To explore the clinical effect of virtual reality therapy on the rehabilitation of swallowing function in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment accompanied by dysphagia. Methods: Totally, 40 stroke patients who were assessed as cognitive impairment by Mini-mental state examination（MMSE） and diagnosed as dysphagia by swallowing angiography (VFSS) were selected and divided into experimental group and control group (n=20 each) according to the random number method. The control group was given routine swallowing and cognitive guidance training, and the experimental group was subjected to virtual reality therapy besides routine treatment and rehabilitation measures. After three weeks of treatment, the cognition and swallowing of the two groups were evaluated and analyzed respectively. Results: There were no significant differences in MMSE score, video fluoroscopic dysphagia scale（VDS） score, oral transit time（OTT）， soft palate elevation between the two groups before treatment. After treatment, MMSE score in two groups was increased as compared with that before treatment (P<0.05), and that in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the VDS score in the two groups was lower than that before treatment (P<0.05), and that in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). OTT and SET time in the two groups were shorter than those before treatment, and those in the experimental group was significantly shorter than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The virtual reality therapy can better improve the cognitive and swallowing functions of patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment accompanied by dysphagia than conventional cognitive training. |
