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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: Neurocrit Care. 2018 Dec;29(3):374–384. doi: 10.1007/s12028-017-0436-1

Table 4.

Screening Tests for Dysphagia in Stroke Patients.

Test Description Comments
Water-Swallowing-Test (WST) (16) According to SIGN-guidelines, 50 ml WST is recommended for use.
Positive test: clinical signs of aspiration.		 Even if the patient passes this test and feeding is initiated, monitoring for coughing and chest infection is recommended.
Multiple-Consistency-Test (aka. Gugging Swallowing Screen GUSS) (68) Stepwise procedure for grading of dysphagia using separate non-fluid and fluid textures. Allows grading into one of four categories: severe, moderate, mild, or no dysphagia.
Each category has its special diet and further recommended strategies.
Swallowing-Provocation-Test (SPT) (16) Examination of the involuntary swallowing reflex by bolus injection of 0.4 ml of distilled water through a small nasal catheter into the oropharynx.
Normal test: time from water injection to reflex is below or equal to three seconds.		 It is a moderately sensitive and highly specific test.