Validation of Clinical Assessment for Diagnosing Dysphagia in Infants with Chronic Encephalopathy

Abstract

Young children with chronic encephalopathy present motor and postural disorders involving several body parts due to neurological impairment, thus compromising oral motor structures. This may result in changes to the function of eating and dysphagia [1][2][3][4][5].Dysphagia is diagnosed through clinical and instrumental assessment using subjective and objective parameters in order to characterize and differentiate between normal and abnormal eating behaviour. It has been observed in clinical investigations that there is a need for an accurate diagnosis of dysphagia, with relevant information regarding the therapeutic process.Clinical assessment of swallowing is essential for recommending guidelines for safe eating without the risk of aspiration, and rehabilitation strategies [6]. However, one weakness involved in the clinical assessment of swallowing is the lack of objectivity, as it may not be possible to accurately determine any changes taking place in the phases of swallowing [6][7][8]. This may lead to doubts regarding the aspiration of food and/or saliva. Thus, it is necessary to investigate these changes through complementary methods according to each specific clinical scenario [9].