Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40776676›Full record

ArticleThe Laryngoscope2026

Sounding out Dysphagia: Using a Digital Stethoscope to Assess Audiometric Differences in Swallowing.

Andrew Yousef, Sacha Moufarrej, David Zeng, Bao Luu, Rong Xing, James S Crook, Yunfei Luo, Kristen Linnemeyer-Risser, Tauhidur Rahman, Philip A Weissbrod

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Article in The Laryngoscope, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Andrew YousefDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-3126-1655
Sacha MoufarrejSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-1841-7029
David ZengSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.ORCID 0009-0004-9319-981X
Bao LuuSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
Rong XingSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
James S CrookSchool of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
Yunfei LuoDepartment of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.
Kristen Linnemeyer-RisserDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
Tauhidur RahmanDepartment of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.
Philip A WeissbrodDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7977-6925

Funding

Otolaryngology Training in Immunology, Virology and Molecular BiologyR25DC020173 · NIDCD · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI Joseph A Califano · 2022 to 2026
$1.4M
National Institute of Health Sciences 5R25DC020173NIDCD NIH HHS R25 DC020173
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesA clinical swallow evaluation (CSE) is a subjective exam with limited diagnostic accuracy. We hypothesize that audiometric data collected superficially can enhance the detection of swallowing dysfunction. This study examines audiometric differences between normal and dysfunctional swallows on Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) using a digital stethoscope.

methodsIn this single-center prospective study, adult patients undergoing FEES for dysphagia had a digital stethoscope placed on the left neck. Audiometric data were analyzed by consistency and compared to Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) and Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale (YPS) scores.

resultsForty-nine patients with a total of 617 individual swallow events were included. Twenty-two patients (45%) had a PAS score of 1-2, 20 (41%) had a PAS score of 3-5, and 7 (14%) had a score of PAS 6-8. Multivariable analysis revealed significant differences in swallow duration (F = 4.65; p = 0.01), peak amplitude (F = 10.6; p < 0.0001), area under the curve (F = 6.13; p = 0.002), and median frequency (F = 8.52; p = 0.0002). Patients with PAS ≥ 3 had prolonged swallow (5.4 s versus 3.3 s, p < 0.0001), lower peak amplitudes (0.25 dB versus 0.32 dB; p < 0.001), and a lower median frequency (169.4 Hz versus 214.8 Hz; p < 0.0001) compared to those with PAS 1-2. Higher YPS scores (III-V) were associated with a longer swallow duration (5.5 s versus 3.5 s, p < 0.0001) and lower median frequency (158.1 Hz versus 221.1 Hz; p = 0.0005).

conclusionAudiometric data reveals significant differences in swallow duration, amplitude, and frequency in patients with swallow dysfunction. These findings suggest that audiometric analysis may serve as a valuable adjunct to the standard CSE. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3:

Indexed as

AudiometryDeglutitionDeglutition DisordersStethoscopesAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesSeverity of Illness Indexacousticsaspirationdigital stethoscopedysphagianon‐invasivepenetration

Identifiers

PMID40776676
PMCPMC13499428

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.