Abstract Background While instrumental assessments like fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) are the definitive methods for diagnosing pediatric oropharyngeal dysphagia, caregiver-reported screening tools are essential for early triage. This study aimed to determine the direct predictive value of the Pedi-EAT-10 Arabic against specific FEES findings in children aged 6 months to 4 years. In a cross-sectional study, 52 children with suspected oropharyngeal dysphagia were evaluated. Caregivers completed the Pedi-EAT-10Arabic as a proxy report. FEES was performed by a specialized team using a standardized protocol with dyed boluses of varying consistencies (liquid, puree, and soft solids). Statistical analysis, including receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, was used to correlate Pedi-EAT-10 Arabic scores with four FEES parameters: premature spillage, pharyngeal residue, laryngeal penetration, and aspiration. Results The mean Pedi-EAT-10 Arabic score was 17.94 ± 9.67. FEES revealed high rates of laryngeal penetration (76.9%) and aspiration (75.0%), frequently occurring as co-occurring signs, while pharyngeal residue (17.3%) and premature spillage (15.4%) were less frequent. Pedi-EAT-10 Arabic scores were significantly associated with all FEES findings, showing the highest predictive accuracy for laryngeal penetration (AUC = 0.976) and aspiration (AUC = 0.995). A cutoff score of ≥ 13 demonstrated excellent discriminative ability for these safety risks. Conclusions The Pedi-EAT-10 Arabic is a potent predictor of pharyngeal-phase safety risks, particularly aspiration and penetration. While it does not replace instrumental evaluation for defining pathophysiology, its high sensitivity makes it a reliable triage tool for prioritizing children for urgent instrumental assessment and optimizing clinical resource allocation.
Khodeir et al. (Mon,) studied this question.