The Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP): A New Standard Physiologic Approach to Swallowing Assessment and Targeted Treatment

Abstract

Abstract One of the most critical roles of a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is making decisions from a swallowing assessment about life sustaining and life quality issues such as the ability to continue to eat and drink. The optimal swallowing assessment requires recognizing subtle variations in the physiologic components and events that comprise an intact, healthy swallowing mechanism. No voluntary standard currently exists for swallowing evaluation terminology, measurement, or reporting. Bonnie Martin-Harris, a practicing clinician and researcher, sought to evaluate if a protocol that standardized language, administration/measurement of contrast viscosities, and reporting method could be validly and reliably executed for the modified barium swallow study (MBSS). A five-year study supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) rigorously tested the content and external validity and reliability of a method that resulted in developing a standardized tool, the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP) (Martin-Harris et al., 2008). A web-based learning environment is under construction and will be available for any clinician who desires training and competence in using the MBSImP. This article provides background on development of the MBSImP, the importance and benefit of standardized, objective assessment, and detail on features and status of the MBSImP web site.