Dysphagia is a term used to describe difficulty swallowing. It can impact an individual's ability to eat and drink safely and/or comfortably. Dysphagia affects an estimated 3 million people every year in the US. Dysphagia can have a number of different causes including stroke, traumatic brain injury, cancer, COPD, and more.  

FEES stands for Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing. A small scope with a camera on the end is placed in the patient’s nose and advanced to the back of the throat. Swallow function is visualized via video recording while food and liquid trials are administered.

FEES is considered the gold standard in dysphagia evaluation and management. The use of FEES and instrumental assessments is vital in determining the appropriate plan of care for our patients.