SwallowSens: Co-design and feasibility of a home-based wearable system for swallowing impairment monitoring
Swallowing difficulties are common in people living with conditions such as motor neurone disease (MND), stroke and frailty. These difficulties can lead to serious complications, including aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition and reduced quality of life. However, swallowing is not routinely monitored outside specialist clinical assessments and changes are often detected late.
SwallowSens is developing a wearable system that combines muscle activity and swallowing sound signals to provide an objective measure of swallowing function at home. The system is designed to be low-cost, non-invasive and suitable for use in everyday environments.
By enabling objective, longitudinal monitoring of swallowing, SwallowSens aims to support earlier and more informed clinical decision-making and improve care for people with long-term conditions.
Aims
The project aims to develop and test a wearable system for monitoring swallowing function in home settings. It will generate user-informed design requirements, pilot feasibility data and a refined prototype to support future clinical validation. The longer-term goal is to enable earlier detection of swallowing decline and improve decision-making in community and outpatient care pathways.
Methods
This project will combine co-design and early feasibility testing. We will work with people living with swallowing impairment, carers and healthcare professionals to shape the wearable system and ensure it is practical and acceptable in real-world settings. We will then carry out early pilot testing in home and community environments.
Principal Investigator
Reader in Engineering
Investigator
PhD Student
Affiliations
Funding
Funding Body: Better Health & Care Hub
Amount: £16,705
Period: April 2026 - March 2027