EAT-10: A Swallowing Screening Tool

The Eating Assessment Tool 10 (EAT-10) is a list of 10 questions that can be completed in approximately 2 minutes. The questionnaire helps to measure to what extent you may experience swallowing difficulty and your risk of dysphagia. It is a self-administered screener that can be answered by the person experiencing swallowing difficulty, or with the help of a caregiver or healthcare professional.

EAT-10 was developed by the Nestlé Nutrition Institute* and is a clinically recognised self-administered screener for dysphagia. If the EAT-10 score is 3 or higher, you may have problems swallowing efficiently or safely. We recommend downloading the questionnaire and discussing your symptoms and the EAT-10 results with a healthcare professional. A qualified Speech Pathologist can provide a dysphagia assessment.

Instructions

Read each statement and select the number (from 0 to 4) that reflects ‘To what extent do you experience the following problems?’

SYMPTOMS
SCORE
1. My swallowing problem has caused me to lose weight.
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2. My swallowing problem interferes with my ability to go out for meals.
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3. Swallowing liquids takes extra effort.
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4. Swallowing solids takes extra effort.
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5. Swallowing pills takes extra effort.
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6. Swallowing is painful.
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7. The pleasure of eating is affected by my swallowing.
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8. When I swallow food sticks in my throat.
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9. I cough when I eat.
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10. Swallowing is stressful.
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*Reference: The validity and reliability of EAT-10 has been determined.
Belafsky PC, Mouadeb DA, Rees CJ, Pryor JC, Postma GN, Allen J, Leonard RJ. Validity and Reliability of the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10). Annals of Otology Rhinology & Laryngology 2008;117(12):919-924.