Also known as a clinical swallow evaluation, this exam involves an SLP observing and examining a patient’s swallowing function using various food and liquid trials, without X-ray or endoscopy. The bedside swallow evaluation is a crucial first-line tool for identifying dysphagia, allowing the clinician to judge airway safety, swallowing efficiency, and the need for diet modifications. SLPs rely on this evaluation to make initial recommendations and determine if more advanced testing is needed, making it an essential component of dysphagia management.
Kendrea L. Garand et al., “Assessment Across the Life Span: The Clinical Swallow Evaluation,” American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 29, no. 2S (2020).
John C. O’Horo et al., “Bedside Diagnosis of Dysphagia: A Systematic Review,” Journal of Hospital Medicine 10, no. 4 (2015).
