Abstract: Objective To determine the value of accommodation quotient (AQ) on dysphagia evaluation in the elderly. Methods 40 old cases with dysphagia were assessed with AQ, Kubota Water Swallow Test (WST) and Swallowing Evaluation (SE) before and after 3 weeks of treatment. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the first AQ assessment: mild group (AQ=1.5~2.5) and serious group (AQ< 1.5). Results There was not significant difference in scores of WST between both groups (P>0.05) but SE (P<0.05). The AQ before treatment moderately correlated with the scores of WST and SE before treatment and improvement (P<0.001), and SE after treatment (P<0.001), but did not correlate with the score of WST after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusion The AQ may indicate the function of swallowing in the elderly, and predict the outcome of dysphagia.

Key words: dysphagia, elderly, accommodation quotient, evaluation