Dysphagia (swallow) assessment via telehealth

Written By Laura Thompson

Telehealth dysphagia assessment can be done through video conferencing and other real-time communications technology. During the assessment, the clinician will observe the patient’s swallowing pattern and collect information about the patient’s medical history, diet, and any other relevant factors. They may also ask the patient to swallow a liquid or small amount of food while they watch. In some cases, clinicians may recommend a modified barium swallow study to further assess the patient's swallowing abilities. Telehealth dysphagia assessment can provide the same level of care as an in-person assessment, allowing clinicians to diagnose and treat swallowing disorders from any location. In addition, telehealth assessments can provide valuable data for dysphagia research, as they allow researchers to observe patient’s “real-world” swallowing patterns and compare them to those of a control group. This data can help researchers better understand how to best diagnose and treat dysphagia.

Telehealth has been increasingly used as an alternative to in-person medical appointments in recent years, and dysphagia assessment is no exception. Several studies have investigated the use of telehealth for dysphagia assessment and found it to be both feasible and effective. In one study, researchers compared the accuracy of telehealth-based dysphagia assessment to in-person assessment. They found that the accuracy of telehealth-based assessments was comparable to in-person assessments, and that telehealth-based assessments were more efficient and cost-effective. In another study, researchers compared the accuracy of remote versus in-person dysphagia assessments. They found that remote assessments were just as accurate as in-person assessments and that remote assessments were more efficient and cost-effective. In a third study, researchers compared the accuracy of telehealth-based dysphagia assessments to traditional bedside assessments. They found that telehealth-based assessments were just as accurate as bedside assessments, and that telehealth-based assessments were more efficient and cost-effective. Overall, the evidence suggests that telehealth-based dysphagia assessment is feasible and effective, and could be a viable alternative to in-person assessments.