FEES for Physicians
BRING SWALLOWING DIAGNOSTICS TO YOUR PRACTICE!
Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) performed by a speech-language pathologist can be a valuable diagnostic tool to a doctor’s office. We bring our portable equipment to your office and provide immediate results to the physicians!
This safe and well tolerated procedure examines the structure and function of the aero-digestive tract in relation to swallowing. The procedure is useful in determining the nature of the swallowing dysfunction and is invaluable in guiding decisions regarding dietary and behavioral management. The entire procedure takes less than twenty minutes to complete and neither radiation nor barium are required. The patient is seated in the office, alert, able to speak throughout the test and can resume daily activities immediately following the procedure.
FEES can be used to evaluate the following:
- severity of edema and erythema consistent with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)adequate movement and airway protection of the vocal folds
- excess mucus and ability to manage secretions
- pharyngeal deficits
- globus sensation
- view lesions or excrescences on the vocal folds
- assess for best tolerated diet consistencies
- assess compensatory strategies with recommended diet
- assess response to swallowing therapy
- monitor fatigue throughout the meal
- dysphagia screening for head and neck cancer patients