Bull, testing to see if someone can swallow does not do anything to move that person toward having any kind of conscious life. The ability to keep from choking when someone slams some food down down your throat is not rehab if the party being fed doesnt know they are being fed.
Bull yourself dear. The swallow test is more sophisticated than you may be aware. It can indicate the likelihood that one can be taught to swallow and can indicate what substances one can driink or eat. And it can recommend what is the best way to try to eat.
For instance, thickened liquids can help in swallowing. Some can't drink water but can drink something thick like thickened water or a malt for instance. And crumbs can be a problem so mushy cereal is better than corn flakes.
But the issue is, the test can point the way to regular eating and how it may be accomplished. Not a small thing.
It is not "slamming" as you so melodramatically and wrongly put it if she chews or swallows from a spoon brought to her lips.
And you are wrong that it cannot be a first part of rehab. Terri has literally not tasted food in years. Sensory deprivation is deleterious to the normal, how much more so the disabled.