The 100 ml-Timed Water Swallow Test: Pilot Data from Children with No Dysphagia

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Swallowing Physiology
• Clinical Swallowing Assessment
• Childhood Deglutition

Background:

• Dysphagia screening tests are crucial for identifying swallowing difficulties in children, guiding feeding recommendations.
• The 100 ml-Timed Water Swallow Test (TWST) is a valuable tool for assessing swallowing parameters.
• Limited data exists on normative swallowing values in the pediatric population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate swallowing parameters in children using the 100 ml-TWST.
• To establish normative data for swallowing function in a pediatric cohort.
• To explore the influence of age, gender, and drinking mode on swallowing parameters.

Main Methods:

• Sixty Singaporean children (aged 4-18 years) performed the 100 ml-TWST using a cup and a straw.
• Observed parameters included task completion, cough, choke, throat clear, voice quality, time, and swallow count.
• Calculated metrics: time per swallow (T/S), volume per swallow (V/S), and swallowing capacity (V/T).

Main Results:

• Younger children showed higher rates of coughing and task incompletion.
• Adolescents and males exhibited shorter T/S, fewer swallows, greater V/S, and higher V/T.
• Cup drinking resulted in greater V/S and V/T compared to straw drinking.
• Swallowing parameters plateaued in adolescence, suggesting functional maturation.

Conclusions:

• The 100 ml-TWST provides valuable insights into pediatric swallowing maturation.
• Age and gender influence swallowing efficiency, with maturation evident in adolescence.
• Drinking mode affects swallowing dynamics, with cup drinking showing higher efficiency.
• Established pilot data for children without dysphagia, aiding clinical assessment.