In nutritional assessment, which information helps determine whether the patient can swallow?

• A. Height and weight
• B. Food allergies
• C. Use of nutritional supplements
• D. If can swallow

Answer: (D)

Determining whether the patient can swallow is essential because it directly guides safe feeding, whether by mouth or through alternative routes. If swallowing is intact, oral intake can be considered with appropriate texture modifications and monitoring. If swallowing is impaired, there’s a real risk of aspiration, so the care plan would shift toward nonoral or texture-modified feeds and often require a formal swallow assessment by a clinician or speech-language pathologist before any oral intake is advanced.

Height and weight inform nutritional status and energy/protein needs but don’t reveal swallowing capability. Food allergies influence what can be eaten once swallow safety is established, but they don’t indicate the act of swallowing itself. Use of nutritional supplements helps meet nutritional goals but doesn’t assess the mechanics or safety of swallowing. So, the information that best determines swallow ability is whether the patient can swallow.