Fairlawn Offers New Therapy for Swallowing Disorders   Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital and Outpatient Center has introduced VitalStim, a new treatment option for people with dysphagia (swallowing disorders).   VitalStim is an innovative therapy used to retrain throat muscles affected by dysphagia. VitalStim stimulates inactive or atrophied swallowing muscles by passing a small electric current through external electrodes on the neck. With repeated therapy, throat muscles are re-trained, and the patient progresses to an optimum level of swallow function.   Clinical trials for VitalStim Therapy found a success rate of 80 percent in improved swallowing function (compared to 33 percent for traditional therapy). Among patients with severe dysphagia, clinical trials found that 90 percent of patients experienced restored swallowing past the point of requiring a feeding tube.   Nearly 75 percent of stroke survivors are affected by dysphagia. The condition also affects individuals with neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. Traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, and brain tumors can also cause dysphagia.   For more information about VitalStim Therapy and how it has helped Fairlawn patients, go to Success Stories.