I am a speech language therapist (SLT) specialized in neuromuscular disorders in children. My PhD research focuses on the natural history of bulbar symptoms in patients of all ages with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and children with Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). These conditions significantly impact quality of life, causing issues like difficulties with speech, mastication and swallowing.

Currently, there are no specific guidelines for assessing and managing oropharyngeal dysphagia and dysarthria in DMD and MD1. At Radboud university medical center, a multidisciplinary team, including SLT, conducts annual consultations for DMD and MD1 patients. The SLT sessions involve standardized assessments using clinical mastication and swallowing tests and orofacial muscle ultrasound, providing valuable data for longitudinal studies.

This research project involves collecting retrospective data from medical records of patients who received SLT over the past decade for DMD and the past three years for MD1. This research aims to map the progression of speech, mastication, and swallowing issues. It will contribute to developing evidence-based guidelines and improving patient care.

My supervisors are Prof. Dr. Jan Groothuis, Dr. Marloes Lagarde, Dr. Saskia Houwen-van Opstal (Rehabilitation), and Dr. Hilde Braakman (Neurology).