Tongue-strengthening exercises for people with ALS
Official title: The Impact of Dysphagia Exercise on Oropharyngeal Swallowing Function in Patients With ALS
Run by Nova Southeastern University · NCT07295990 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program will test whether daily tongue-strengthening exercises can help people with ALS maintain or improve speech and swallowing.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 99 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Nova Southeastern University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Davie, Florida) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 2028 |
| Study ends | January 2029 |
| Registry record updated | August 12, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07295990 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
People with a diagnosis of possible, probable, or definite ALS who have measurable tongue weakness, can generate isometric lingual pressure, are naïve to lingual exercise programs, and can attend two visits in Davie, Florida are the intended candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are anarthric, NPO, have a tracheostomy, cannot generate tongue pressure, or have other excluded neurologic/head and neck conditions are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This single-site within-subject trial delivers a five-week lingual isometric resistance training program in which each participant serves as their own control. Participants complete two in-person visits (baseline and post-treatment) and five weekly telehealth sessions with a speech-language pathologist while using a home lingual manometer (Tongueometer) to record strength and support exercises. Outcome measures collected longitudinally include speaking rate (Bamboo Passage), the 3-ounce water swallow screen, TOMASS, lingual strength measures, and patient-reported scales (ETBQ, EAT-10, ALSFRS). Treatment-related changes will be compared to each participant’s baseline to determine safety, feasibility, and functional effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the exercises could help maintain or improve tongue strength, which may make swallowing safer and speech clearer for people with ALS.
How similar studies have gone: Tongue-strengthening programs have produced improvements in tongue strength and swallowing in stroke and older adults, but direct evidence in ALS is limited and preliminary.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of possible, probable, or definite ALS (El-Escorial Revisited) * Lingual exercises naïve * Impaired lingual strength generation compared to normative data * EAT-10 score \<3 Exclusion Criteria: * Stroke * Head injury * Head and neck cancer * Tracheostomy * Other concomitant neurogenic disorder * Recent oral surgery other than routine dental surgery * Unable to generate isometric lingual pressure on lingual manometer * Participation in another clinical trial intervention that may confound results * NPO (nothing by mouth) * Anarthric
Where it's running
-
Nova Southeastern University
Davie, Florida, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Lauren Tabor Gray, Ph.D. — Neuroscience Institute, Cathy J. Husman ALS Center
- Study coordinator: Raquel Garcia, SLP.D.
- Email: rw602@nova.edu
- Phone: 17863994053
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.