title: A comparison of 2 methods of endoscopic laryngeal sensory testing: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the association between laryngeal sensory deficits and penetration or aspiration. Two methods of testing laryngeal sensation were carried out to determine which was more highly correlated with Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy participants and patients with dysphagia received an endoscopic swallowing evaluation including 2 sequential laryngeal sensory tests-air pulse followed by touch method. Normal/impaired responses were correlated with PAS scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen participants completed the endoscopic swallowing evaluation and both sensory tests. The air pulse method identified sensory impairment with greater frequency than the touch method (P<.0001). However, the impairment identified by the air pulse method was not associated with abnormal PAS scores (P=.46). The sensory deficits identified by the touch method were associated with abnormal PAS scores (P=.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensory impairment detected by the air pulse method does not appear to be associated with risk of penetration/aspiration. Significant laryngeal sensory loss revealed by the touch method is associated with compromised airway protection.
authors.affiliation: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA asakokaneoka@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Asako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaneoka
authors.affiliation: Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Gintas P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Krisciunas
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Adele S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Raade
authors.affiliation: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Langmore
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007830:Larynx / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology
keywords: head and neck; laryngology; larynx; neurological disorders; otolaryngology; swallowing