Apparatuses and methods to activate muscles of deglutition to promote dysphagia recovery in neurological disorders

A method for treating dysphagia, comprising:

• providing a dysphagia treatment apparatus comprising:
• an elongate tubular body presenting a proximal end, a distal end, and defining a first lumen and a second lumen, the first lumen oriented along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body, the first lumen adapted to receive a nasogastric/enteric tube therein such that the elongate tubular body is selectively slidably shiftable relative to the nasogastric/enteric tube, the second lumen being oriented parallel to the first lumen;
• and
• a dysphagia treatment device disposed proximate the distal end of the elongate tubular body;
• introducing a proximal end of a nasogastric/enteric tube emplaced in the nasopharynx and esophagus of a patient into the first lumen at the distal end of the elongate tubular body;
• sliding the elongate tubular body over the nasogastric/enteric tube to advance the elongate tubular body into the nasopharynx and esophagus of the patient while periodically actuating the dysphagia treatment device to stimulate muscles controlling deglutition in the nasopharynx and esophagus of the patient.