Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) affects many patients with throat symptoms such as chronic cough, hoarseness, sensation of a lump in the throat, or swallowing difficulty. For clinicians, having a reliable, practical screening tool is important. The Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) is one such patient-reported questionnaire frequently used to screen for LPR. This article reviews what the […]

Limitations of Bedside Swallow Evaluations and Emerging FEES Research Dysphagia, difficulty swallowing safely and efficiently, poses significant health risks, including aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition and dehydration. For clinicians, accurately identifying swallowing impairments is critical to developing effective treatment plans and preventing avoidable complications. While bedside clinical evaluations play a key role in initial screening, they carry […]

Most people think of swallowing therapy in terms of diet changes or tongue and throat exercises. What often goes unrecognized is the role that breathing plays in swallowing safety. The respiratory and swallowing systems share anatomical pathways, and when respiratory muscles are weak, airway protection suffers. This connection has drawn increasing attention to Respiratory Muscle […]

When a patient shows signs of swallowing difficulty, clinicians often begin with a simple but high-stakes question: Can this person safely eat or drink? “Pass/fail” dysphagia screenings exist to help answer that question quickly. They help determine whether oral intake is likely safe or if further testing is needed to assess safety of swallowing, allowing […]

A FEES swallow study, short for Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing, is a real-time, endoscopic procedure that allows clinicians to directly observe how food and liquid move through the throat. Unlike more traditional imaging tests, FEES is portable, minimally invasive, and offers immediate visual feedback making it a practical, evidence-backed choice for diagnosing and treating […]

Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) has become one of the most valuable tools in dysphagia assessment. While physicians may be most associated with endoscopic procedures, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) hold a central role in FEES, guiding the process from assessment to treatment planning. The SLP’s role in FEES extends beyond technical expertise—it shapes patient outcomes […]