Table 2.
Recommended assessment tools and outcome measures.
| Tool | Comment |
|---|---|
| Clinical assessment | Examination at rest for hyperkinesis and muscle twitching and with standard sequence of facial exercises |
| Photo and video documentation (28) | Documentation of the assessment for follow-up and facial grading |
| Facial synkinesis grading | |
| Sunnybrook (29) | Evaluation of the resting symmetry, degree of voluntary movement, and synkinesis to form a composite score |
| eFACE/auto-eFACE (30, 31) | Evaluation of three categories with static, dynamic, and synkinesis parameters. The auto-eFACE is a machine learning–derived automated assessment tool of the original eFACE. |
| PROMs | |
| SAQ (32) | The only available specific PROM for the evaluation of synkinesis. |
| FaCE (33). | Popular facial nerve specific PROM. |
| FDI (34). | Popular facial nerve specific PROM. |
| Electromyography (12) | Multichannel electromyography recording synchronously from several facial muscles during facial exercises prove the presence of facial synkinesis. |
| Modified Schirmer test | In case of gustatory hyperlacrimation (crocodile tears). |
| Hearing tests | In case of synkinesis of the stapedius muscle. |
PROM, patient-reported outcome measure; SAQ, Synkinesis Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ); FaCE, Facial Clinimetric Evaluation; FDI, Facial Disability Index.