title: The Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale.
abstract: The Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) is a simple, easy-to-use, 7-point scale developed to systematically rate the functional severity of dysphagia based on objective assessment and make recommendations for diet level, independence level, and type of nutrition. Intra- and interjudge reliabilities of the DOSS was established by four clinicians on 135 consecutive patients who underwent a modified barium swallow procedure at a large teaching hospital. Patients were assigned a severity level, independence level, and nutritional level based on three areas most associated with final recommendations: oral stage bolus transfer, pharyngeal stage retention, and airway protection. Results indicate high interrater (90%) and intrarater (93%) agreement with this scale. Implications are suggested for use of the DOSS in documenting functional outcomes of swallowing and diet status based on objective assessment.
authors.affiliation: Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut 06102, USA.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: O'Neil
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Purdy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002933:Cineradiography / Q000379:methods; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology / Q000193:education; D016896:Treatment Outcome