Category

Tools for Assessment

Methods of Measurement

Rating

1

Rating

2

Rating

3

VOICE

Auditory

Converse with patient

normal

deep or raspy

difficult or painful to talk

SWALLOW

Observation

Ask patient to swallow

normal swallow

some pain on swallow

unable to swallow

LIPS

Visual

Observe tissue

smooth pink moist

cry or cracked

ulcerated or bleeding

TONGUE

Visual

Observe tissue

pink and moist

coated or shiny, with or without redness

blistered, ulcerated or cracked

SALIVA

Observation

Tongue Depressor

Insert tongue depressor into mouth

watery

thick or ropy

absent

MUCOUS MEMBRANE

Visual

Observation of tissue with torch

pink and moist

reddened or coated (increased whiteness)

ulcerations with or without bleeding

GINGIVA

Visual

Observation

pink and firm

oedematous with or without redness

spontaneous bleeding or bleeding on contact

swollen

TEETH DENTURES

Visual

Observation of teeth or with dentures removed

clean

plaque or debris in some areas

plaque or debris throughout mouth