This single cohort, retrospective, descriptive study, was conducted because of anecdotal, clinical observations that most children with cerebral palsy exhibit limited epiglottic inversion during swallowing. Puree bolus swallows from previously recorded Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Studies (VFSS) of children with cerebral palsy were analyzed with image processing software to compare the degree of the epiglottic angle before the swallow to the epiglottic angle at maximum rotation, and the competence of airway protection using the Penetration-Aspiration Scale. Data were analyzed to describe correlation between angle of epiglottic inversion and entry of material into the laryngeal vestibule. Descriptive statistics were used to describe means and standard deviation of epiglottic inversion, penetration-aspiration score, and the age and sex of the participants. A comparison was made between angle of epiglottic inversion in children with cerebral palsy and healthy norms. Findings of this study included significantly limited epiglottic inversion in children with cerebral palsy. A correlation was not demonstrated between epiglottic inversion and penetration aspiration scores
