Clinical and Instrumental Assessment Tools for Neurogenic Dysphagia: Translation and Validation

This study aims to translate and validate Italian versions of several clinical assessment tools for patients with neurogenic dysphagia. The instruments include: The New Zealand Secretion Severity Scale, which evaluates secretion management; The Reflex Cough Test from the I\&I cranial nerves assessment; The VASES scale used during fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing; The Drooling Severity Scale, which measures saliva control. The study will include approximately 100 patients with neurogenic dysphagia. The goal is to provide reliable, standardized tools in Italian to support clinicians in assessing swallowing and oral-motor function in patients with neurological disorders.

IInclusion Criteria: Adult patients (≥18 years) diagnosed with neurogenic dysphagia due to any neurological condition (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury) Able to understand and comply with study procedures Provide written informed consent (or legal representative consent if necessary) Stable medical and neurological condition at the time of assessment Exclusion Criteria: Active respiratory infection or acute illness affecting swallowing at the time of assessment History of head and neck surgery or anatomical abnormalities preventing standardized assessment of swallowing or reflex cough Severe uncontrolled comorbidities (cardiac, pulmonary, or systemic) that make study participation unsafe