Aspiration screening process for assessing need for modified barium swallow study

Whether a (stroke) patient is at risk for oral or pharyngeal dysphagia is determined by conducting a cough-based screening process for clinically evaluating the patient's swallow. The cough-based screening methodology is able to identify those patients who require a modified barium swallow test in order to rule out aspiration, and which patients do not need a modified barium swallow test. In accordance with the process the patient attempts to cough voluntarily. If the patient is unable to cough voluntarily, the patient is required to inhale an aerosol that stimulates a sensory innervation of the patient's larynx, thereby causing the patient to cough. The resulting cough is graded to determine whether the patient is at risk to a prescribed physiological condition, in particular pneumonia. The cough tests are supplemented by monitoring the ability of the patient to hold water in the patient's mouth for a prescribed period of time. If the patient is able to hold a prescribed volume of water in the patient's mouth for the prescribed period of time, the patient is permitted to be given a modified barium swallow test. If the patient is unable to hold a prescribed volume of water in the patient's mouth for the prescribed period of time, the patient is not permitted to be given a modified barium swallow test.