Rehabilitation of Lower Cranial Nerve Dysfunction

Lower cranial nerve dysfunction can be attributed to a variety of causes and may result in severe morbidity and even mortality. Immediate problems are primarily related to difficulty with swallowing and resultant aspiration pneumonia. Voice problems typically are less dangerous but can affect quality of life adversely. With appropriate diagnosis of these deficits, management and rehabilitation can prevent serious complications. Although many lower cranial nerve deficits can be treated adequately by speech and swallowing therapy alone, surgical rehabilitation of these deficits is sometimes required to obtain optimal functional outcomes.