- Reference Number: HEY1267/2025
- Departments: Speech and Language
- Last Updated: 31 July 2025
Introduction
You have been referred for a Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) to gain further information about your swallowing difficulty.
What is a FEES?
The FEES will be carried out by two Speech & Language Therapists (SLTs). It involves passing a small camera (a small, flexible endoscope) into one nostril and along the floor of the nose to look down into your throat and voice box. We will give you some food and / or drink (which may be dyed with food colouring to help us to see it). After the procedure you may be able to see your throat and swallowing on the television monitor if you choose.
Why do I need FEES?
We use FEES to understand and help with problems that people can have with swallowing. We can see:
- whether food, drink or saliva is going down the wrong way i.e. into your airway (this is called aspiration). This can occur without you realising it (this is called silent aspiration).
- whether some food and drink consistencies are easier for you to swallow than others and why.
- whether your swallowing difficulties can be helped by altering the position of your head or body.
- the amount of food and drink that you can safely swallow with each mouthful.
How long will it take?
The small tube will be in your throat for around 10 to 15 minutes. After the assessment the SLTs will watch the video of your swallow in further detail and prepare a report. This and any recommendations will be discussed with you, usually on the same day, or at an agreed time/date. You will be asked to sign a form to give your consent for this procedure before it begins.
Can I eat and drink before the examination?
Unless you have been advised otherwise, you can eat and drink as normal before the assessment. If you are currently feeding through a tube, you can take your feeds as normal up until your assessment. It is important that you let the SLT know about any food allergies.
Is the procedure safe? Is it uncomfortable?
FEES is a safe procedure. At times, the passing of the small tube through the nose may cause some discomfort. There is a very small risk of gagging, aspiration and nose bleed. Once the tube is positioned in the throat, any discomfort usually stops. You are able to stop the procedure at any time.
What do you do with the recordings?
The images are saved electronically and kept securely with your hospital records for eight years.
Should you require any further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact the Speech and Language Therapy Department tel: 01482 604331
General Advice and Consent
Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.
Consent to treatment
Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.
The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:
- you must be able to give your consent
- you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
- you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person
Information about you
We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.
We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.
Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.
If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.
