Media

Treatment of Communication and Swallowing Disorders Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Press briefing

11 May 2012

Past overseas studies have suggested that around 50% of chronic stroke survivors will develop some level of swallowing problems. Based on the Hospital Authority 2009-2010 annual report, there are around 23,700 stroke cases per year and it is estimated that around 11,850 of these cases may continue to have swallowing problems when they are discharged from hospitals.

The Swallowing Research Laboratory in the Division of Speech & Hearing Sciences, Faculty of Education, HKU is currently running a pilot study to investigate a new swallowing treatment method for stroke survivors. This study is in collaboration with Professor Bruce Murdoch, Director of the Centre for Neurogenic Communication Disorders Research at the University of Queensland, Australia.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method of modulating the activity of the cerebral cortex. In recent years, Professor Murdoch and his team have found evidence in supporting the use of TMS in the treatment of a range of swallowing and communication disorders associated with a range of neurological disorders including stroke and Parkinson's disease.

Dr Karen Chan, Director of the Swallowing Research Laboratory and Assistant Professor will present how TMS works and details of the pilot study.  Professor Bruce Murdoch, Visiting Research Professor at HKU, will present his research projects that supported the use of TMS in improving language and motor speech functions in clients with stroke and Parkinson's disease.

Media representatives are cordially invited to the presentation of the findings at the press briefing, the details are as follows:

Date: May 16, 2012 (Wednesday)
Time: 11:00am
Venue: Room LG02, Hui Oi Chow Science Building, HKU
Language: Cantonese and English

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Queenie Wong, Development and Communications Manager (Tel: 2219 4270 / Mobile: 9220 5840 / Fax: 2540 6360 / E-mail: qlpwong@hku.hk).