What are dysphagia tests?

Dysphagia is a term that means difficulty swallowing. Normally when you swallow, food moves easily from your mouth, down your throat, and into your stomach. The food travels through a long tube called the esophagus. If you have dysphagia, it can take more time and effort to move food from your mouth to your stomach. It can be painful and may even prevent you from swallowing at all.

Dysphagia can happen at any age but is more common in older adults and people who have certain neurologic diseases. There are many conditions that can cause dysphagia. Some are very serious. Dysphagia tests can help screen for or diagnose these conditions.

Other names: bedside swallow, clinical swallow, dysphagia screening tool, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallow (FEES), barium swallow, esophagram, videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS), upper endoscopy