Reflux Symptom Index (RSI): Assessing Reflux Severity

The Reflux Symptom Index helps patients rate the severity of throat reflux issues. Clinicians use this nine-item survey to diagnose conditions and track treatment progress.

Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) PDF questionnaire for assessing laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms
RSI

Reflux Symptom Index (RSI)

The Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) is a nine-item survey designed to assess laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Patients rate symptoms like hoarseness to help clinicians measure severity. It’s a practical method for diagnosing LPR and tracking how well a patient responds to their treatment plan.

Category

Physical health
Diagnostic
Monitoring

Disease

Assessment
Diagnostics
Clinical Measurement

Source

(Belafsky et al., 2002)

Author Name

Belafsky, P.C., Postma, G.N. & Koufman, J.A. (2002)

Page Editor

Thijs Sondag

What is Reflux Symptom Index (RSI)

The Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) is a trusted tool for tracking laryngopharyngeal reflux. It helps doctors spot throat issues quickly and reliably. This nine-item survey asks patients to rate specific problems they might face. It focuses on how reflux affects the upper airway and voice box over the last month. Questions cover common complaints like hoarseness, excess throat mucus, and that annoying lump sensation in the throat. Patients score each item from zero to five, where zero means no problem and five indicates a severe issue affecting their daily life. A total score above thirteen usually suggests abnormal reflux is present. Clinicians use it to monitor treatment progress or confirm a diagnosis without invasive tests. It is quick to complete in the waiting room, making it a practical choice for busy clinics wanting to improve patient outcomes.

RSI Scoring

The Reflux Symptom Index can be scored using a single total summation approach based on patient ratings. Patients rate nine specific items, like hoarseness or excess throat mucus, on a scale from zero (no problem) to five (severe problem). You just sum these numbers to get a total score between 0 and 45. A result greater than 13 is usually seen as abnormal, suggesting laryngopharyngeal reflux is likely the cause. This handy total helps doctors monitor symptom severity and track how well a treatment plan is working over time.

View scoring form

Advantages

Diagnostic accuracy

Enables precise identification of patient health status.

Outcome tracking

Measures healthcare intervention results systematically.

Efficient collection

Streamlines research data gathering process.

Reliable data

Provides consistent measurements for clinical research.

2
Minutes
9
Questions

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