WATERTOWN, NY — Samaritan Health System is offering a new evaluation tool for our speech therapy staff to help patients and residents with swallowing disorders. The new FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) tool allows therapists to capture and record live colored video to identify the cause of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). This procedure is not invasive and can be done in any medical setting.
Samaritan is the only local provider to offer the FEES evaluation service.
This evaluation tool helps the speech therapist see what happens in your mouth and throat when you swallow. The actual endoscopy lets the speech therapist see:
— if food goes into your airway instead of your stomach, called aspiration
— what parts of your mouth and throat may not work well
— what kinds of food and liquid consistencies are safest for you to swallow
— if certain positions or strategies help you swallow better