Swallowing Screening: Purposefully Different From an Assessment Sensitivity and Specificity Related to Clinical...

Area of Science:

• Clinical practice
• Speech-language pathology
• Swallowing disorders

Background:

• Feeding problems and dysphagia affect individuals across the lifespan.
• Early identification is crucial for effective management.
• Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a key role in screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the goals and processes of dysphagia and feeding problem screening.
• To guide SLPs in selecting optimal screening approaches for diverse populations.
• To highlight critical considerations for clinical decision-making in screening.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical screening practices for feeding problems and dysphagia.
• Focus on psychometrically sound screening approaches.
• Consideration of screening across the lifespan.

Main Results:

• Screening is the essential first step in identifying at-risk individuals.
• Understanding screening versus assessment objectives is vital for SLPs.
• Knowledge, skills, and competency in screening are recommended standards.

Conclusions:

• SLPs require expertise in implementing valid and reliable dysphagia screenings.
• Effective screening guides clinical decisions for feeding and swallowing disorders.
• This article provides critical considerations for SLPs managing dysphagia populations.