Which characteristic is not commonly observed in Parkinson disease-related dysphagia?

• A. Excessive lingual rocking
• B. Drooling
• C. Inappropriate laughter while swallowing
• D. Delay in initiation of the pharyngeal response

Answer: (C)

Parkinson disease–related dysphagia stems from bradykinetic, hypokinetic control of the oral and pharyngeal muscles, so the swallowing pattern shows reduced and slowed movements with impaired timing. Drooling is common because there’s less frequent and less effective swallowing, leading to pooling of saliva. A delay in initiating the pharyngeal swallow is also typical, as the trigger for the swallow can be sluggish due to impaired sensory-motor integration.

Excessive lingual rocking isn’t a hallmark of PD dysphagia; instead, tongue movements tend to be reduced or become rigid, not excessively powered. Inappropriate laughter while swallowing points more toward pseudobulbar affect, an emotional/lability issue that isn’t a core feature of PD-related swallowing impairment. That’s why this characteristic isn’t commonly observed in PD dysphagia.