**Table 1.**

*Characteristics of the study group.*

*Assessment of Dysphagia as a Risk Factor of Chronic Cough DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97038*

and left side in 23 and 24 patients, respectively. The reduced thyrohyoid and cricothyroid space was observed in 14 and 16 patients, respectively. The upper chest breathing pattern was observed in 19 subjects. In most of the patients, the increased cervical lordosis (22 patients) and decreased lumbar lordosis (23 patients) was observed. Disorders observed at speech were comparable or more intense to those found at rest (**Table 2**).

On physical examination the following was found: normal pharyngeal reflexes in 23 patients, normal soft palate activity during swallows in 29 patients, and impaired elevation of the larynx in 10 **(Figure 1)**.

In case of water swallowing test (WST) results, the negative (no risk of aspiration) result was found in 28 patients (93.33%) for 5 ml amount of liquid, in 24 (80.00%) for 10 ml, in 21 (70.00%) for 20 ml, and in 15 (50.00%) for 90 ml (**Figure 2**). The remaining patients demonstrated positive WST result, which is associated with the risk of aspiration and requires verification by the objective diagnostic methods like FEES and/or videofluoroscopy [17].


*SCM (Sternocleidomastoid muscle).*

#### **Table 2.**

*The results of functional examination.*

*Water-swallow test (WST) results. Positive result means risk of aspiration, negative result means no risk of aspiration.*
