Swallowing Solutions November 2025
Celebrating 20 Years of VitalStim: Restoring Swallowing, Restoring Hope
This month, we’re celebrating an innovation that has changed the way we treat swallowing disorders — VitalStim Therapy.For more than 20 years, this evidence-based technology has helped countless individuals regain one of life’s most essential joys: eating and drinking safely.
What Is VitalStim Therapy?
VitalStim is a specialized therapy that uses gentle, low-level electrical currents to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing. While the stimulation occurs, patients practice swallowing exercises under the guidance of a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP).
This dual approach — combining neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with skilled swallowing therapy — helps retrain the brain and strengthen coordination between the muscles of the mouth and throat.
Two Decades of Research and Results
VitalStim has been in use for over 20 years and was the first therapy of its kind to receive FDA clearance in 2001. Since then, it has been studied in hospitals, universities, and clinics across the world.
Research Highlights:
Studies show that VitalStim, when combined with traditional swallowing therapy, leads to greater improvement in muscle strength and swallow safety than exercises alone.
Electromyographic research demonstrates enhanced activation of submental and pharyngeal muscles — key groups that initiate a safe, effective swallow.
Patients receiving VitalStim therapy have shown shorter recovery times, fewer aspiration events, and reduced feeding-tube dependence.
It’s now used in over 50 countries and remains the only FDA-cleared NMES therapy specifically for dysphagia treatment.
Stories That Inspire
Behind every study is a person reclaiming something they thought they had lost — the taste of favorite foods, the comfort of family meals, and the confidence to eat safely again.
One patient, after multiple strokes, was able to return to teaching and speaking clearly again following consistent VitalStim therapy. Another learned to enjoy her favorite warm meals without fear. These stories remind us that with the right care and persistence, progress is always possible.
Finding Help
If you or someone you love is struggling with swallowing, look for a VitalStim-certified speech-language pathologist (SLP). You can find providers through www.vitalstim.com or by asking your local hospital’s rehabilitation department.
VitalStim-trained clinicians receive specialized certification to ensure safe and effective treatment for individuals with dysphagia.
Closing Thought
Twenty years later, the goal of VitalStim remains the same: to help people reconnect with one of life’s simplest yet most profound pleasures — sharing a meal with loved ones.