Viviers, MariKritzinger, Alta M. (Aletta Margaretha)Vinck, Bart M.Graham, Marien Alet2018-02-162018-02-162017-01-30Viviers, M., Kritzinger, A., Vinck, B., & Graham, M. (2017). Preliminary psychometric performance of the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale. South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 64(1), a163. https://DOI. org/ 10.4102/sajcd.v64i1.163.0379-8046 (print)2225-4765 (online)10.4102/sajcd.v64i1.163http://hdl.handle.net/2263/64009OBJECTIVE : The objective was to determine the preliminary psychometric performance of a new clinical feeding scale to diagnose oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in neonates. METHODS : Twenty neonates with a median gestational age of 35 weeks were evaluated using the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale (NFAS) and modified barium swallow studies (MBSS). The results were compared. RESULTS : Nine of the 20 participants presented with OPD on the NFAS. Comparison of the scale’s results with instrumental MBSS indicated that all participants without OPD were correctly excluded (100% sensitivity). The specificity was 78.6%, indicating that three participants were falsely identified with OPD on the scale. Interrater reliability was determined on 50% (n = 10) of the sample. Substantial agreement (80%) was obtained between two raters in five of the six sections of the scale and on the diagnostic outcome. CONCLUTION : The preliminary performance of the scale appears to be promising. A further validation study will take place.en© 2017. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.Clinical feeding scaleNeonatesModified barium swallow studies (MBSS)Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD)Neonatal feeding assessment scale (NFAS)Article