This study aims to translate and validate Italian versions of several clinical assessment tools for patients with neurogenic dysphagia. The instruments include:
The New Zealand Secretion Severity Scale, which evaluates secretion management; The Reflex Cough Test from the I\&I cranial nerves assessment; The VASES scale used during fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing; The Drooling Severity Scale, which measures saliva control.
The study will include approximately 100 patients with neurogenic dysphagia. The goal is to provide reliable, standardized tools in Italian to support clinicians in assessing swallowing and oral-motor function in patients with neurological disorders.
None
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people with neurogenic dysphagia
Cohort
Prospective
dysphagia assessment
Diagnostic testno intervention but validation of assessments
Internal consistency of secretion and drooling scales
Description: Internal consistency of the New Zealand Secretions Severity Scale (NZSS) and Drooling Severity Scale (DSS). Scale titles: New Zealand Secretions Severity Scale (NZSS) Drooling Severity Scale (DSS) Range: NZSS: 0-7 (higher score = greater secretion severity) DSS: 1-5 (higher score = greater drooling severity) Metric: Cronbach's alpha (0-1; higher = better consistency)
Inter-rater reliability of secretion, drooling, and swallowing assessment scales
Inter-rater reliability of secretion, drooling, and swallowing assessment scales Scale titles: New Zealand Secretions Severity Scale (NZSS) Drooling Severity Scale (DSS) Visual Analysis of Swallowing efficiency and safety (VASES) Range: NZSS: 0-7 (higher = worse secretion severity) DSS: 1-5 (higher = worse drooling severity) VASES: - pharyngeal residue: 0-4 (higher = worse residue severity); PAS: 1-8 (higher = worse airway invasion severity) Metric: Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC, 0-1; higher = better reliability)
Test-retest reliability of clinical swallowing and secretion measures
Test-retest reliability of clinical swallowing and secretion measures Scale titles: New Zealand Secretions Severity Scale (NZSS) Drooling Severity Scale (DSS) Reflex Cough Test Range: NZSS: 0-7 DSS: 1-5 Reflex Cough Test: 0-4 (based on increasing citric acid concentrations 0.1-0.4; higher = worse cough reflex sensitivity impairment) Metric: Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC, 0-1; higher = better reliability)
Construct validity of secretion and drooling scales during FEES
Construct validity of secretion and drooling scales during FEES Scale titles: New Zealand Secretions Severity Scale (NZSS) Drooling Severity Scale (DSS) VASES (Visual Analysis of Swallowing Efficiency and Safety) Range: NZSS: 0-7 DSS: 1-5 VASES: pharyngeal residue: 0-4 (higher = worse residue severity); PAS: 1-8 (higher = worse airway invasion severity) Metric: Correlation coefficients (-1 to +1; absolute value closer to 1 = stronger association)
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