Clinical feeding assessment: An effective screening test to predict aspiration in children in low resource settings

Diagnosis and management of swallowing problems in children is crucial for improvement of their health status and quality of life. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of clinical feeding assessment (CFA) as a screening test to detect aspiration in children using fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) as the gold standard.

A prospective study of 80 children aged below 16 years who were referred to a paediatric otolaryngology clinic for swallowing complaints was completed from 2019 to 2020. Swallowing was assessed by both CFA and FEES. Presence of any one of the following symptoms was considered positive for aspiration in CFA: cough, wet vocal quality, and respiratory distress. Aspiration on FEES was measured using the Penetration Aspiration Scale. The clinical predictors of aspiration were analysed.

The majority of the children (78.8%) had an associated neurological condition, with cerebral palsy being the most common. CFA had a sensitivity ranging from 80% to 100% and a specificity ranging from 68% to 79% for predicting true aspiration for different food consistencies. The significant risk factors predicting aspiration (p value <0.05) were history of prior intubation (p = 0.009), history of nasal regurgitation (p = 0.002) and spasticity on examination (p = 0.043).

This study showed that CFA can be used as a screening test in evaluation of paediatric dysphagia. In those with negative CFA, the chances of aspiration are less while those with positive CFA need further evaluation. In addition, the availability and cost-effectiveness of the test make it a good tool for screening aspiration in low-resource settings.