Predictors Affecting Successful Completion of Videofluoroscopic Studies in Children

Purpose: We hypothesized that patient-specific factors are associated with noncompletion of videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSSs). Our aims were to determine the rate of a successfully completed VFSSs in children and to identify the patient-related factors that are associated with successful completion. Method: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of children who underwent a VFSS. The pediatric VFSS (pVFSS) Value Scale was completed by the speech-language pathologist at study conclusion. Twenty children had the scale completed by a second rater. Children who scored 4 or 5, 3, and 0–2 were classified as having a high-, moderate-, or low-value study, respectively. Results: Two hundred children aged 1 month–18 years ( M = 39.3 months) were included. The mean score on the pVFSS scale was 3.73. Interrater agreement showed strong reliability (κ = .89). Overall, 62%, 21.5%, and 16.5% were high-, moderate-, and low-value studies, respectively. Children ≤ 12 months old had higher pVFSS scores than did children aged 13 months–2 years ( p = .001) and 3–5 years ( p = .032). Similarly, children aged 13 months–2 years also had lower scores than did children aged 6–9 years ( p = .034). Conclusion: Children between 13 months and 5 years of age participate least well in VFSSs.