Table 2.
Measurements in videofluoroscopy.
| Method of measurement | Parameters | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Definition | Rating scale or units | |
| Temporal parameters | GPJo (Glossopalatal junction opening) |
Moment of separation of the tongue and soft palate. | Seconds |
| GPJc (Glossopalatal junction closure) |
Moment of contact of the tongue and palate after bolus propulsion. | ||
| GPJd (Glossopalatal junction duration) |
ΔT between GPJo and GPJc. | ||
| VPJc (Velopharyngeal junction closure) |
Moment of first contact of the soft palate against the posterior pharyngeal wall. | ||
| VPJo (Velopharyngeal junction opening) |
Moment of separation of the soft palate and the posterior pharyngeal wall with reentry of air in the retrolingual space from the nasopharynx. | ||
| VPJd (Velopharyngeal junction duration) |
ΔT between VPJc and VPJo | ||
| LVc (Laryngeal vestibule closure) |
Moment when laryngeal elevation results in making contact between the arytenoid cartilages and the underside of the epiglottis. | ||
| LVo (Laryngeal vestibule opening) |
Moment of separation of the arytenoid cartilages and the underside of the epiglottis with reentry of air in the laryngeal vestibule. | ||
| LVd (Laryngeal vestibule duration) |
ΔT between LVc and LVo | ||
| UESo (Upper esophageal sphincter opening) |
Moment of opening of the esophagus with entry of either air or barium. | ||
| UESc (Upper esophageal sphincter closure) |
Moment of closure of the esophagus after bolus transport. | ||
| UESd (Upper esophageal sphincter duration) |
ΔT between UESo and UESc | ||
| GPJo-LVc | ΔT between GPJo and LVc | ||
| GPJo-UESo | ΔT between GPJo and UESo | ||
| GPJo-UESc | ΔT between GPJo and UESc | ||
| Aspiration-penetration | Moment of aspiration or penetration | ||
|
| |||
| Spatial and temporal parameters (hyoid motion) | Horizontal hyoid motion | Maximum horizontal (anterior) motion during swallowing act. | Millimeters |
| Vertical hyoid motion | Maximum vertical motion during swallowing act. | Millimeters | |
| Duration vertical hyoid motion | Duration between initiation of swallow and moment of maximum vertical motion. | Seconds | |
| Duration horizontal hyoid motion | Duration between initiation of swallow and moment of maximum horizontal (anterior) motion. | Seconds | |
|
| |||
| Visuoperceptual parametersa | Preswallow anterior spill | Preswallow loss of bolus from the lips | Five-point scale (0–4) |
| Preswallow posterior spill | Preswallow loss of bolus into the pharynx | Five-point scale (0–4) | |
| Lingual pumping | Preswallow involuntary repetitive tongue movements | Five-point scale (0–4) | |
| Swallow hesitancy | Delayed onset oral transport | Three-point scale (0–2) | |
| Piecemeal deglutition | Sequential swallowing on the same bolus | Five-point scale (0–4) | |
| Delayed initiation pharyngeal reflex | Delayed onset pharyngeal triggering | Three-point scale (0–2) | |
| Postswallow oral residue | Postswallow pooling in the oral cavity | Five-point scale (0–4) | |
| Postswallow vallecular pooling | Postswallow pooling in the valleculae | Three-point scale (0–2) | |
| Postswallow pyriform sinus pooling | Postswallow pooling in the pyriform sinuses | Three-point scale (0–2) | |
| Penetration aspiration scale (PAS) [20] | Penetration and/or aspiration | Eight-point scale (1–8) | |
aLower scores refer to normal functioning whereas higher scores refer to more severe disability.