National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) as an early predictor of post-stroke dysphagia

Conclusions The NIHSS >9 and FIM < 55 are moderately predictive of clinically relevant dysphagia. While the NIHSS clinical test characteristics are not as favorable as the FIM, NIHSS appears to be more sensitive than some other reported methods such as a 3-sip water test. Further study into development of paradigms that incorporate NIHSS into initial assessment of dysphagia risk may be appropriate.
Source: PMandR - Category: Rehabilitation Source Type: research