Stroke Swallowing Screening Tool Validation

Consecutive individuals admitted with suspected stroke will be recruited to participate. Individuals will undergo screening of swallowing and a videofluoroscopic swallow study within two hours. Eight screening items will be tested for validity and inter-rater reliability: 6 nonswallowing features and 2 swallowing features. Reliability in nursing observations of each screening item will be completed in all participants. Speech pathologists trained in the screening items will serve as the reference standard from which to compare reliability with registered nurses who routinely work on the hospital ward with stroke patients