Patients with a history of COVID-19 infection and experiencing symptoms of dysphagia.

Patients who do not have a history of COVID-19 infection but experience symptoms of dysphagia.

Swallowing disorders of the patients were evaluated with fiberoptic endoscopic swallowing study (FEES).

The results of FEES was scored by the Penetration-Aspiration Scale. The Penetration - Aspiration Scale is an 8-point scale during instrumental swallowing assessments such as the fiberoptic endoscopic swallow study, both indicating the localization of the airway leak and demonstrating the response to the assessment.

Oral motor dysfunction (OMD) assessment of the patients was performed by physical examination of the oropharyngeal mechanism. Lips, tongue, palate, cheeks, teeth, jaw, larynx, and oral reflexes were evaluated with 26 items in terms of lifting, pressing, extending, retraction, approximation, rolling, lateralization, movement, coordination, speed, tone, and strength. A scale of 1-4 was used for scoring (1=within functional limits, 2=mild impairment, 3=moderate impairment, 4=severe impairment). The total score ranged from 26 to 104, with higher scores indicating greater degree of impairment. Only a score of 26 was considered normal within functional limits.

Nervus trigeminus (V. cranial nerve), Nervus facialis (VII. cranial nerve), Nervus glossopharyngeus (IX. cranial nerve), Nervus vagus (X. cranial nerve) and Nervus hypoglossus (XII. cranial nerve) which are five cranial nerves involved in swallowing function were evaluated by the clinician.

The Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) was used to examine how the quality of life of the patients was affected because of their difficulty in swallowing.