Bedside Evaluation of Swallowing in Severe Brain Injury Patients in Subacute Setting

While several validated bedside screenings exist for oropharyngeal dysphagia (especially in stroke patients), a specific scale for oropharyngeal dysphagia has not yet been validated for patients with severe acquired brain injury. Accurately assessing oropharyngeal dysphagia in these patients within the rehabilitation setting is crucial for developing tailored treatment. This review aims to summarise the evidence concerning available bedside screening tests to evaluate oropharyngeal dysphagia, focusing specifically on their sensitivity and specificity. Severe acquired brain injury generate a high burden of disability and long-term care needs. The use appropriate tools for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment may help to prevent additional health problems and correlated costs. Although SWADOC is the only screening test specifically designed for oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with severe acquired brain injury, other high-quality tests, such as the Gugging Swallowing Screen, the Two-Step Thickened Water Test, and the Sapienza Global Bedside Evaluation of Swallowing are available and appear promising in this field.