An electrical stimulation device (10) and method for the treatment of dysphagia is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical stimulation device (10) includes one or more channels of electrodes (18a, 18b, 2Oa5 20b) each of which includes a first electrode (18a, 20a) positioned in electrical contact with tissue of a target region of a patient and a second electrode (18b, 20b) positioned in electrical contact with tissue of a posterior neck region or a posterior thoracic region of the patient. A series of electrical pulses are then applied to the patient through the one or more channels of electrodes (18a, 18b, 20a, 20b) in accordance with a procedure for treating dysphagia. The series of electrical pulses may comprise: a plurality of cycles of a biphasic sequential pulse train pattern; a plurality of cycles of a biphasic overlapping pulse train pattern; a plurality of cycles of a triphasic sequential pulse train pattern; a plurality of cycles of a triphasic overlapping pulse train pattern; a functional pulse train pattern; a low-frequency pulse train pattern; or a frequency-sequenced pulse burst train pattern. Various exemplary embodiments of the invention are disclosed.
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