Outcome measurement in dysphagia: Not so hard to swallow

This article reports on the use of a new tool from the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures (AusTOMs) set-the Swallowing scale. The scale is one of six, designed to measure outcomes of clients attending speech pathology practices in Australia. The tool was used for six months in clinical practices across 14 healthcare sites in Victoria, Australia (including six acute hospitals, six rehabilitation services, one specialist pediatric hospital, and one specialist cancer institute). This article provides preliminary descriptive data and analyses of outcomes from swallowing therapy, along with discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of this tool. Potential clinical applications are suggested.