Palpation as a Method To Predict Spatial Instrumental Hyolaryngeal Excursion Measures.

All patients were referred for a swallow evaluation because of swallowing difficulty, and there was no control group of people without dysphagia signs or symptoms. Fifty-one patients were rated normal and 26 were rated reduced, and 71 of 77 were outpatient, which may have limited severity. Ten patients were excluded because imaging points were not viewable, and some patients contributed only one trial of a consistency. Only four SLP raters participated, and they had similar finger widths, so the palpation rule may not fit all clinicians. The study tested upward movement only and did not test whether palpation predicts aspiration, residue, or other functional pharyngeal consequences. The study did not test whether the palpation method increases cognitive load during a CSE.

Do not conclude that palpation can replace VFSS or predict aspiration. The study only showed better agreement for upward movement, did not test aspiration or residue, and found no predictor for forward movement.