Swallowing Characteristics and Water Swallow Capacity in Patients with Parkinsonism.

Prevalence and characteristics of dysphagia (including aspiration) in patients with parkinsonism is variable, depending on type of assessment, diagnosis, disease stage and duration. The aim of this study was to further evaluate dysphagia characteristics in patients with different types of parkinsonism with both instrumental (Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing, FEES) and non-instrumental (Timed Water Swallow Test, TWST) assessments. Swallowing characteristics in 74 patients with parkinsonism were prospectively assessed using FEES and TWST.