What is a swallow study?

Speech-language pathologists at Children's Memorial complete more than 500 video-fluoroscopic swallow studies per year.

A swallow study (also known as a videofluoroscopic swallow study) is a procedure used to test children experiencing difficulties with feeding and/or swallowing.

• The swallow study is performed in the medical imaging department with a speech-language pathologist and a radiologist. Special equipment is used to provide a "moving x-ray" of the child's swallow.
• During the test, the child is placed in a chair next to the x-ray equipment. The speech-language pathologist feeds the child a variety of foods mixed with barium. The barium makes the food visible during the x-ray.
• The speech pathologist closely watches the x-ray to see how the food and drink move through the mouth and into the esophagus during chewing and swallowing. She also watches for any signs of aspiration (when the food or liquid goes "down the wrong way" into the airway).
• Once the test is complete, you will be given recommendations about feeding strategies and your child's diet if needed to decrease the risk of choking or aspiration.