Table 3 The percentages and comparison among the participants in different specialties regarding their responses about the indicative symptoms and signs of dysphagia

Difficulty in swallowing and/or feeling of food stuck in the throat

173 (92%)

23 (88.5%)

92 (92.9%)

8 (100%)

22 (95.7%)

28 (87.5%)

0.7

Coughing or choking while eating

108 (57.4%)

13 (50%)

45 (45.5%)

7 (87.5%)

19 (82.6%)

24 (75%)

*<0.001

Choking on Saliva during non-meals

56 (29.8%)

4 (15.4%)

18 (18.2%)

5 (62.5%)

10 (43.5%)

19 (59.4%)

*<0.001

Anterior leakage (drooling)

54 (28.7%)

4 (15.4%)

18 (18.2%)

6 (75%)

9 (39.1%)

17 (53.1%)

*<0.001

Oral residue

32 (17%)

2 (7.7%)

8 (8.1%)

2 (25%)

8 (34.8%)

12 (37.5%)

*<0.001

A change in the voice and/or frequent clearance after drinking or eating

57 (30.3%)

6 (23.1%)

22 (22.2%)

2 (25%)

16 (69.6%)

11 (34.4%)

*0.001

Poor chewing and poor tongue movement

46 (24.5%)

5 (19.2%)

10 (10.1%)

4 (50%)

8 (34.8%)

19 (59.4%)

*<0.001

The need for longer time to finish the meal

60 (31.9%)

7 (26.9%)

29 (29.3%)

4 (50%)

4 (17.4%)

16 (50%)

0.065

The need for multiple swallows each mouthful

55 (29.3%)

7 (26.9%)

27 (27.3%)

3 (37.5%)

7 (30.4%)

11 (34.4%)

0.89

If the texture of drinks/food may influence the ability to swallow

68 (36.2%)

11 (42.3%)

27 (27.3%)

3 (37.5%)

9 (39.1%)

18 (56.3%)

*0.045

If posture influences swallowing ability

44 (23.4%)

5 (19.2%)

15 (15.2%)

3 (37.5%)

6 (26.1%)

15 (46.9%)

*0.005

Weight loss

85 (45.2%)

16 (61.5%)

40 (40.4%)

3 (37.5%)

10 (43.5%)

16 (50%)

0.37

Do not know

7 (3.7%)

0 (0%)

6 (6.1%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (3.1%)

0.7