A patient with dysphagia aspirates food approximately 10% of the time while eating and has no cough reflex. According to the Dysphagia Severity Scale, which level of severity would this patient be classified as having?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Dysphagia Severity Scale ranges from 1 (least severe) to 7 (most severe). A patient who aspirates about 10% of the time and lacks a cough reflex would be classified as level 5, indicating a severe impairment that significantly impacts safety and efficiency of swallow, necessitating alternative methods of nutrition.

A Patient with Dysphagia Aspirates Food Approximately 10% of the Time