The Pediatric Screening-Priority Evaluation Dysphagia: Validation of a new tool for screening swallowing disorders in infants and children.

Single-centre study at a major paediatric hospital, so results may not apply to other settings. Interrater reliability was assessed only by experienced speech therapists specializing in dysphagia, which may overestimate agreement for less specialized staff. Cut-off values were derived from a heterogeneous population; specific cut-offs for different diagnostic groups (e.g., neurological vs. genetic) were not established. The study did not assess the relative weight of individual items (e.g., whether tracheostomy predicts risk more strongly than other factors).

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The study was funded by the Italian Ministry of Health.

Do not interpret a PS-PED score below 5 as proof that a child has no swallowing disorder. The tool prioritizes sensitivity to avoid missing cases, so a low score does not eliminate risk if clinical suspicion remains, and referral for assessment should still occur if symptoms persist.