Comments on Selected Recent Dysphagia Literature

Excerpt

This study aimed to determine the best measure to discriminate presence of oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with cerebral palsy. A total of 130 children with cerebral palsy (81 M/49F; range 18–36 months, mean 27.4 months) and 40 children with typical development (18 M/22F; range 18–36 months; mean 26.2 months) participated. Oropharyngeal dysphagia was assessed with the Dysphagia Disorders Survey (DDS), Pre-Speech Assessment Scale (PSAS), and Schedule for Oral Motor Assessment (SOMA). Both the DDS and PSAS had 100 % sensitivity but specificity of 47 and 71 %, respectively, while the SOMA had sensitivity of 53 and 100 % specificity. In order to improve specificity, modified cut-points should be used for classifying oropharyngeal dysphagia on the DDS, PSAS, and SOMA in young children with cerebral palsy. …