Feasibility study of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) efficacy in patients with neurogenic dysphagia: Study Protocol.

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have shown increasing scientific relevance due to their potential positive effects across several health domains, including rehabilitation and clinical treatment. Among these techniques, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of various neurological symptoms and conditions. Specifically, tDCS has shown potential benefits in speech therapy, hearing, voice modulation, and particularly in the treatment of neurogenic dysphagia. This feasibility study aims to assess the implementation of tDCS in patients with neurogenic dysphagia and to determine whether a future randomized controlled trial (RCT) is justified. The study will be conducted at the Neurorehabilitation and Neuromodulation Laboratory, located at the Interprofessional Health Clinic School (CEIS) of the Federal University of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Twelve patients will be recruited by convenience sampling and will undergo eight 30-minute tDCS sessions (twice a week over four weeks). Swallowing function will be assessed using the Dysphagia Risk Evaluation Protocol (PARD), the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), and the Quality of Life in Swallowing Disorders Protocol (SWAL-QOL) before and after the intervention. This protocol offers preliminary insights into the clinical feasibility of tDCS for dysphagia and contributes to the development of future clinical trials in this field.