FEES is an instrumental dysphagia evaluation performed with a flexible endoscope passed through the nose to observe the throat during swallowing. This allows clinicians to see real-time pharyngeal function and assess airway protection, pooling, and aspiration risk. It is portable, safe, and can be done at bedside, making it especially valuable for patients who cannot travel to radiology. SLPs with appropriate training use FEES to guide dysphagia management, monitor swallowing safety, and tailor therapeutic interventions.
A. Santoro et al., “Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES): Proposal for Informed Consent,” Acta Oto-Laryngologica Italica 28, no. 4 (2008).
Susan E. Langmore et al., “Fiberoptic Endoscopic Examination of Swallowing Safety: A New Procedure,” Dysphagia 2, no. 4 (1988).
