Feeding-swallowing evaluations
If your child is experiencing feeding and/or swallowing difficulties, an appointment may be made with a speech-language pathologist for an evaluation to determine the cause and develop a plan for treatment. Discussion with your doctor can help determine when and what type of evaluation is needed.
Clinical feeding evaluations
- During a clinical evaluation, you and your child will meet with a speech-language pathologist.
- He or she will review your child's medical history and your concerns about how your child eats and drinks.
- For the evaluation appointment, your child should be hungry! Please bring food and drink that your child likes, as well as any bottles, cups, or spoons that you use at home.
- The speech-language pathologist will watch your child eat and drink, will make changes to their current diet if needed and will discuss recommendations for therapy or other modifications. Sometimes, your child may show signs of "aspiration." Aspiration means that food or liquid goes "down the wrong way" and enters the airway. Frequent aspiration can put your child at risk for respiratory problems, including pneumonia. If there is concern for aspiration, additional testing may be recommended. This testing may include a videofluorscopic evaluation of swallowing (VFSS) or a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).
- An appointment for a clinical feeding-swallowing evaluation may be made by calling 1-800-KIDSDOC.
Videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS)
A swallow study (also known as a videofluoroscopic swallow study) is a procedure used to test children experiencing difficulties with feeding and/or swallowing.
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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.
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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.
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The speech pathologist closely watches the x-ray to see how the food and drink move through the mouth and into the esophagus during drinking, chewing and swallowing and watches for any signs of aspiration (when the food or liquid goes "down the wrong way" into the airway).
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Once the test is complete, you will be given recommendations about feeding strategies and changes to your child's diet if needed to decrease the risk of choking or aspiration.
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An appointment for a VFSS may be made by calling 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDSDOC®).
Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES)
A FEES study is another test of swallowing that may be recommended when there is concern for aspiration.
- A FEES study is completed with a speech-language pathologist and otolaryngologist (ear-nose-throat doctor) who specialize in this type of evaluation.
- A camera is used to directly view your child's throat and larynx (voice box) when eating. He or she will eat and drink, and the speech-language pathologist and doctor can see if and when aspiration occurs, and can make changes and recommendations at that time.
- This test is completed in the ENT doctor's office and does not require the use of radiation.
- An appointment for FEES may be made through the ENT department by calling 773.975.8519.