PROFESSIONAL PREFERENCES OF SPEECH PATHOLOGIST FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF DYSPHAGIA AFTER STROKE

Background: Dysphagia is common after stroke, leading to adverse outcome. The clinical decisions are often based on usual practice, however no formal or similar methods exists determine the efficacy for assessment and treatment of dysphagia stroke. Objective:To professional preferences among SLPs in terms opted techniques approaches management major cities Pakistan. Methods:Study design was cross sectional survey data collected from practicing speech language pathologists Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore Karachi July 2020 till January 2021through online medium Google forms. non-probability convenient sampling technique used collection pathologists. Sample size n=31 out which n=20 were females n=11 males. Responses all participants presented form n(%) through SPSS version 20. Results: There variation between responses different Speech (SLPs)had access instrumental video fluoroscopy n=5 (16.1%), FEES n= 4 (12.9%) more than one tools 8 (25.7%) but before recommendation exercise rarelyn=20 (64.3%) practiced. two principal outcome measures direct exercises indicated by Oral control n=12 (35.2%) reduced aspiration n=8 (12.9%). To measure outcomes rarely n=25 (80.7%) uses use rating scales n=29 (93%). also prefer see patient 1-2 times a day, 1-4 days week, 45 minutes. most frequently preferred lip range movement n=15 (48.4%), strength n=16 (51.6%) effortful swallow 16 whereas electrical stimulation method least practiced (16.2%). Conclusion: showed variability assessments practices format. Keywords:Dysphagia, decision making, speech-language pathology,