Acoustic Analysis of Swallowing of an Experimental Meal of Three Food Textures: A Comparative Aging Study.

The older group were hospitalized geriatric patients, while the younger group were healthy volunteers, so the groups differed in setting and possible other health factors. Only 44 subjects were analysed, and 6 participants were excluded. The recording method did not capture the oral phase or chewing, so longer time between swallows could reflect several unmeasured steps. The three foods were always eaten in the same order and were soft or liquid, so the result may not apply to mixed or harder textures. The acoustic analysis had moderate inter-rater reliability and needs training, so it is not ready as a routine clinical tool.

Do not read these age differences as evidence of dysphagia or as a validated speech therapy screening test. The study compared non-dysphagic groups and the authors say further studies with pathological subjects are needed before a clinical score could be used.