Conditions FEES Helps Identify
Neurological & Medical Dysphagia Conditions FEES Identifies
Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is one of the most trusted tools for identifying swallowing impairments across a wide range of neurological, medical, and structural conditions. Because FEES provides real-time visualization of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing, clinicians can detect issues early, intervene quickly, and prevent complications that place patients at risk.
Diagnostech FEES performs portable, on-site evaluations, helping facilities, clinicians, and care teams assess swallowing safety without transferring medically fragile patients off-site.
Why FEES Is Used in Clinical Practice
FEES gives clinicians a direct, clear understanding of how well a patient is managing airway protection, bolus flow, secretion management, and pharyngeal clearance. When aspiration, penetration, or residue is present, it becomes immediately visible on screen. This allows for rapid adjustments to diet, hydration strategies, and treatment plans before issues escalate into pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, or avoidable hospitalization.
These insights help guide immediate diet, hydration, and treatment planning to reduce the risk of pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and avoidable hospitalization.
Key Conditions and Problems FEES Helps Identify
Neurological Disorders
FEES is a highly accurate method for diagnosing neurogenic dysphagia associated with:
- Stroke: FEES detects impairments that can increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration. It also identifies whether compensatory strategies improve airway protection.
- Parkinson’s Disease: FEES evaluates reduced coordination, delayed swallow initiation, and residue patterns typical in Parkinsonism.
- ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis): FEES monitors progression of swallowing difficulties and guides safe diet adjustments over time.
- Dementia and Cognitive Decline: FEES is especially useful when patients cannot participate in complex assessments and need a quick, bedside evaluation.
- Other Neuromuscular Diseases: Including MS, myopathies, and generalized weakness caused by prolonged hospitalization or aging.
Cancer-Related Conditions
Cancer treatment can significantly affect swallowing, particularly in patients who have undergone surgery or radiation for head and neck cancers. FEES helps clinicians evaluate structural changes, scarring, reduced mobility, and sensory loss that may interfere with safe swallowing. Identifying these issues early allows care teams to recommend compensatory strategies, diet modifications, and targeted therapy to prevent aspiration and maintain adequate nutrition. By diagnosing these issues early, clinicians can recommend safer diet textures and therapeutic interventions.
Generalized Weakness and Deconditioning
Patients with prolonged hospitalization, frailty, or general muscle weakness frequently experience swallowing inefficiencies. FEES is especially useful in these situations because it reveals how well patients manage secretions, how much residue remains after a swallow, and whether fatigue affects their safety over time. This information guides nutrition and hydration planning and helps prevent weight loss, dehydration, and respiratory complications.
Malnutrition and Dehydration Risk
Swallowing disorders often contribute to reduced intake or poor tolerance of thin liquids, leading to malnutrition and dehydration. FEES helps clinicians pinpoint the cause of these difficulties. By observing swallow function directly, clinicians can determine whether texture adjustments, pacing changes, or therapeutic interventions are needed to support safe and adequate intake.
Why FEES Is a Preferred Assessment
One of the primary advantages of FEES is its practicality. The evaluation can be performed at bedside, making it ideal for medically complex or mobility-limited patients. Its sensitivity allows clinicians to detect even trace aspiration or subtle airway compromise, findings that may not always appear on a modified barium swallow.
FEES results are available immediately, allowing care teams to make informed decisions during the same visit. This approach reduces clinical uncertainty, improves safety planning, and supports better outcomes for medically fragile individuals.
FEES is recognized as a gold-standard tool for diagnosing oropharyngeal dysphagia. Leading organizations such as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and major health systems endorse its use for evaluating complex swallowing disorders and guiding treatment plans.
Resources
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): Professional guidelines on FEES use in clinical settings.
National Institutes of Health (NIH): Research on neurological dysphagia and effectiveness of FEES.
Major Health Systems: Published clinical protocols and patient-care recommendations for FEES evaluations.
Why Facilities Choose Us
Facilities turn to Diagnostech FEES because we operate as an extension of their care team. Fees swallowing testing exams are conducted in a way that integrates smoothly into existing schedules and clinical workflows. Reports are structured to meet payer and accreditation needs, giving administrators confidence in both clinical accuracy and regulatory compliance. At the same time, the service reduces transfer costs and eases the burden on staff who would otherwise have to coordinate outside appointments.
Conditions We Commonly Support
Many of the patients referred for FEES are recovering from stroke or managing conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, ALS, dementia, or general muscle weakness. These populations are particularly vulnerable to swallowing difficulties, making timely, accurate evaluation a critical part of facility-based care.
The Process
When your team identifies a patient with suspected dysphagia, we work directly with your staff to schedule the exam. A trained Diagnostech clinician performs the FEES in your facility, shares results on the spot, and provides documentation that feeds directly into care planning. The process is seamless, safe, and designed to empower your clinical team with the information they need to act quickly.
Diagnostech FEES helps facilities deliver higher standards of care while reducing risk and supporting staff with actionable diagnostics. To explore how on-site FEES can be integrated into your care model, contact us today.
