Speech language pathologists (SLPs) like Tanya Fulton and Angela Randolph at Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center know. They frequently get a real-time peek at the anatomy of a patients throat when performing a test called the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, or FEES. FEES is used when patients have difficulty or pain while eating, drinking or swallowing, movement disorders, bleeding disorders or trauma to the nasal cavity or surrounding tissue.
"FEES is used to assess the physiological function of the pharyngeal, or back of throat, phase of swallow for any patient with many symptoms of swallowing difficulty," Tanya said.
To use FEES, the SLPs use laser-like focus to insert a thin, flexible instrument through a patients nose. The test allows them to see how well the patient can swallow, determine if there are any abnormalities and make recommendations such as foods to avoid.
Tanya, a longtime SLP who was the first to use FEES at Fort Washington Medical Center, said SLPs work cooperatively with physicians who order the test. Angela said SLPs undergo specialized training to perform the evaluation. This, along with their in-depth knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the muscles used in swallowing, helps the SLPs guide patients through the test and any concerns that it uncovers.
FEES cannot see every phase of swallowing, Angela said, so additional imaging is sometimes needed. In these cases, Angela noted that the most convenient way for patients to obtain a diagnosis is via a specialized X-ray known as a modified barium swallow study.
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