Validity, Reliability and Application of the Paediatric Posterior Drooling Scale

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Clinical Assessment Tools

Background:

• Posterior drooling is a common issue in children with neurological disorders, often linked to oropharyngeal dysphagia.
• Early identification and management are crucial for reducing associated respiratory complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the construct validity, inter-rater, and intra-rater reliability of the novel Paediatric Posterior Drooling Scale (PPDS).
• To assess the clinical applicability of the PPDS as a screening tool for posterior drooling in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional observational study involving 69 children (aged 1-18 years) with central neurological disorders.
• Cervical auscultation (CA) was performed by trained speech-language therapists (SLTs).
• Convergent construct validity was assessed using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) and the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS).

Main Results:

• The PPDS demonstrated moderate negative correlation with FOIS (rho=-0.54, p<0.001) and moderate positive correlation with EDACS (rho=0.70, p<0.001).
• Excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC=0.91, p<0.001) and good inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.85, p<0.001) were observed.
• High test-retest reliability was noted, with 84% agreement for a score of 0.

Conclusions:

• The PPDS is a valid, reliable, and clinically applicable tool for SLTs to screen posterior drooling non-invasively.
• Efficient identification of posterior drooling via PPDS can improve clinical management and reduce respiratory issues.
• The PPDS serves as a bridge to instrumental assessment, guiding further diagnostic steps for pediatric posterior drooling.