Validity, Reliability and Application of the Paediatric Posterior Drooling Scale

The PPDS is a valid and reliable clinically applicable screening tool for assessing posterior drooling by the SLT. The PPDS enables SLTs to identify posterior drooling more efficiently, non-invasively and reliably in routine clinical settings. Timely recognition of posterior drooling can significantly impact clinical management, particularly by reducing respiratory complications. Performing subsequent PPDS assessments at different times when posterior drooling is suspected is important for the treating paediatrician to determine the underlying cause of posterior drooling. To establish the diagnosis of posterior drooling, the PPDS should not be used as a stand-alone tool but as a bridge between clinical observations and the need for an instrumental assessment.