Overview

This information is about having a procedure called a nasendoscopy to assess your swallowing.

A nasendoscopy lets a speech and language therapist see your throat while you swallow. This procedure is sometimes called a flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).

The procedure shows:

• whether any food or drink goes down the wrong way (into your airway)
• what happens to any food or drink left in your throat after you swallow

This information explains:

• the benefits of the procedure
• the risks of the procedure
• how to prepare for the procedure
• what happens during the procedure
• what happens after the procedure
• the arrangements for your follow-up care

If you have any questions, please speak to your speech and language therapist.

Benefits of the procedure

A nasendoscopy lets your speech and language therapist see what happens when you swallow. They may then be able to recommend things to improve your swallowing, such as:

• different positions for eating or drinking
• different types of food or drink that will make swallowing safer or easier
• exercises if the muscles in your throat are weak

Risks of the procedure

Some people have reported:

• a feeling of light-headedness
• nose bleeds
• coughing
• spasm of the vocal cords

These happen in less than 1 out of 100 cases. Any effects are temporary and should not last more than a couple of minutes.

Other treatment options

There is no other procedure that allows your speech and language therapist to get this type of information about your swallowing.