Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) Dysphagia Test for Stroke Patients

GUSS Dysphagia Test for Stroke Patients
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GUSS Dysphagia Test for Stroke Patients
Routine screening of stroke patients using the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) helps identify patients who are at high risk of developing pneumonia (Teuchl et al., 2018). The GUSS has two main subtests; indirect swallowing and direct swallowing. Indirect swallowing involves a preliminary assessment where clearing of the throat, voluntary cough, and swallowing of saliva are assessed. During the indirect swallowing subtest, a patient can achieve a maximum score of 5 points (Umay et al., 2019). The scores are usually a yes/no but can also be scored between 0 and 2 points.
Direct swallowing involves assessment of deglutition, involuntary cough, drooling, and voice changes during the consumption of liquids,semi-solids, and solid food (Umay et al., 2019). During the direct swallowing subtest, four levels of severity can be observed. During this subtest, the patient can achieve a maximum of 20 points, which indicates successful swallowing (Umay et al., 2019). The table below shows the four levels of severity that nurses can use to assess dysphagia among stroke patients. The table also highlights some dietary recommendations th...