penetration-aspiration scale
Also written as: PAS
Eight-point ordinal scale rating the depth and patient response to airway invasion during swallowing assessment.
Full Definition
The penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) is a standardized eight-point rating scale used to describe the depth of airway invasion and the patient's behavioral response during instrumental swallowing assessment. Developed by Rosenbek and colleagues, the scale ranges from 1 (no penetration or aspiration) to 8 (aspiration with no effort to eject material). The PAS provides objective documentation of swallowing safety and is widely used in research and clinical practice to quantify aspiration severity and track changes in swallowing function over time.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier. Use lowercase unless beginning a sentence.
In Context
- "Thin liquids demonstrated a penetration-aspiration scale score of 6, indicating aspiration below the vocal folds with effort to eject." — MBSS report
- "The penetration-aspiration scale provided objective measurement of swallowing safety across different bolus consistencies." — Research documentation